Mixed reactions greet mock polls

By NITZ ARANCON
and LITO RULONA
Correspondents

THE Centrist Democratic Party (CDP) has accepted the results of Xavier University’s mock elections, and sees it as a challenge for it to work harder in its campaign to win control of city hall in the May elections.

The Padayon Pilipino however mocked the Xavier activity, and downplayed the results.

CDP leader Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of the city’s 2nd District said he was thankful to academics and students who showed that they favored his mayoral bid. He said the outcome of the mock elections has strengthened his resolve to work harder in his campaign to win the city’s top post.

The results of the Xavier mock polls, conducted Feb. 19-20, showed that reelectionist Mayor Oscar Moreno was the favorite candidate for the mayoral seat as far as the Xavier community was concerned. The results showed Moreno ahead at 42.93 percent, followed by Rodriguez at 36.41 percent, and former mayor Vicente Emano of the Padayon Pilipino at 10.85 percent.

Rodriguez said, “The result would make me work harder for my candidacy for mayor of Cagayan de Oro City. I hope our people will vote based on qualifications, track record, and program of government, ug molambo unta ang Cagayan de Oro sa panaghi-usa sa tanan.”

Rodriguez’s running mate, Councilor Roger Abaday, said the results of the mock polls showed that he could unseat reelectionist Vice Mayor Caesar Acenas of the Padayon Pilipino.

Abaday had 28.15 percent of the votes vis-à-vis Acenas’s 35.64 percent. 1st District Rep. Rolando Uy’s son Joaquin Rainier, Moreno’s running mate, had 13.24 percent of the votes.

Abaday said Acenas was expected to be ahead because he is the incumbent vice mayor.

“But the difference is too slim at six percent only. Some 20 percent are undecided. Since he is the incumbent, he should be way ahead.  Anyway, this is just the first round. The final round will be on May 9.”

Padayon Pilipino spokesman Councilor Alexander Dacer brushed aside the results of the mock polls, saying he was convinced that in the end, Emano would become mayor again, and win by a landslide.

Dacer called the Xavier mock polls “tiaw-tiaw lang,” adding that the activity was not the basis in determining the outcome of the May 9 elections.

“Kanang mock election ti-aw-ti-aw man lang kana, ug dili kana maoy basihan sa mga tawo sa ilang pagboto adlaw sa election,” he said.

Dacer said the Padayon Pilipino was unfazed over the results of the mock polls that showed Emano a poor third among the mayoral candidates.

He cited a biblical verse that “kinsa kadtong nag-una, ma-ulahi ug kadtong na-ulahi ma-oy mag-una.”

Moreno’s partymate, Councilor Zaldy Ocon, said Moreno was in high spirits when he learned of the outcome of the mock polls.

“Alang sa ako, nakita tingali sa mga studyante sa Xavier ang maayo ang performance sa mayor,” said Ocon.

Nestor Banuag, the head of Xavier’s Kristohanong Katilingban sa Pagpakabana-Social Involvement Office (KKP-SIO) that was behind the mick elections, said the university president, Fr. Roberto Yap, approved the conduct of the mock polls as part of an information, awareness, and voters’ education campaign.

Banuag told local radio: “Dili nato malikayan ang mga komento apan non-partisan ang atong institution. We guard our organization nga dili kami mabahiran kung kinsa among gipaboran.”

He said there were some groups supporting certain candidates who campaigned for their bets outside the Xavier campus and via social media.