By CONG B. CORRALES
Associate Editor
REP. Rolando Uy of the city’s 1st District held back for months as he waited for Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II to choose between him and his challenger Councilor Lourdes Darimbang.
“His (Uy) concerns are valid. He waited for months but nothing happened,” said Mayor Oscar Moreno.
Moreno, a reelectionist who picked Uy’s son Rainier Joaquin as running mate, said he already knew about the congressman’s plan to shift his support to presidential candidate Grace Poe before the public declaration was made on Wednesday afternoon.
GRACE’S BETS. Presidential candidate Grace Poe raises the hands of her candidates for seats in Congress, Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental during a rally in ipper Carmen on Wednesday night. Among her local bets are reelectionist Reps. Rolando Uy of the city’s 1st District (3rd from left) and Juliette Uy of the 2nd District of Misamis Oriental (4th from right), and gubernatorial candidate Villanueva Mayor Julio Uy (2nd from right).(PHOTO BY NITZ ARANCON)
In an interview yesterday, Moreno said Uy met with him in his office on Wednesday morning before Poe’s sortie in the city.
But he said the administration party’s local group remains “strong, firm, and united” despite Uy’s move.
Moreno confirmed that Uy resented Roxas has been openly supporting his political rival, and this forced the congressman to withdraw his support from the LP standard bearer.
Moreno said Uy’s decision may have been a result of a misunderstanding in the LP.
He said Uy raised the issue on Roxas’ support to Darimbang some seven months ago.
“How I wish he (Uy) did not do what he did but even then we’ll just have to respect his decision,” Moreno lamented.
He assured that Uy’s shift of allegiance would not affect his son Rainier Joaquin who is running for vice mayor under the LP.
“This doesn’t affect the local group (because it’s an alliance). We remain strong, firm, and united,” said Moreno.
He said the local LP group’s loyalty remains with Roxas and vice presidential bet Leni Robredo.
Asked if he would start a loyalty check among members of his ticket, Moreno replied curtly: “There’s no need for a loyalty check. We do that every day when we visit the barangays for hand-shaking.”
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