FULL SET. Padayon Pilipino candidates in Misamis Oriental show their unity as they walk towards the provincial office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to file their certificates of candidacy yesterday. From left: provincial board members Jeremy Pelaez and Susan Lagbas, Reynaldo Moreno, Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano, Vice Gov. Jose Mari Pelaez, ex-congressman Augusto Baculio Jr. provincial board member Nancy Madjos, and Cagayan de Oro Councilor President Elipe.
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Emano and Pelaez pray inside the Fatima Chapel on Velez St. shortly before they filed their certificates of candidacy yesterday morning. (photos by nitz arancon)

Emano and Pelaez pray inside the Fatima Chapel on Velez St. shortly before they filed their certificates of candidacy yesterday morning. (photos by nitz arancon)

By NITZ ARANCON
and SHIELA MAE BUTLIG
Correspondents

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MISAMIS Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano yesterday pulled off a surprise when he fielded one of the brothers of Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno and ex-congressman Augusto Baculio Jr. as Padayon Pilipino candidates for the province’s congressional seats.

Emano and members of his 2016 ticket were early birds at the provincial office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) at the start of the filing of certificates of candidacy.

Baculio and Moreno’s elder brother Reynaldo, candidates for congressmen, joined the governor’s group in hearing mass at the Fatima Chapel on Velez St. before they walked towards the Comelec office on Antonio Luna St. where they submitted their certificates of candidacy past 9 am.

Emano’s father Vicente, former governor and Cagayan de Oro mayor who founded the Padayon Pilipino, was not around but the governor’s mother Aloma joined the party’s political supporters.

The Padayon Pilipino decided to field Moreno, a physician by profession, as congressional candidate in the province’s 1st District, a position once held by the present mayor of Cagayan de Oro, and Baculio, in the 2nd District.

The physician has challenged the reelection bid of his brother’s political ally, Rep. Peter Unabia, while Baculio wants to reclaim his old congressional post from 2nd District Rep. Juliette Uy whose husband Julio is running for governor.

Gov. Emano and Vice Gov. Pelaez also fielded a complete set of candidates for the provincial board: provincial board member Susan Lagbas, former provincial board member Jeremy Pelaez, Sugbongcogon councilor Jerry Khu, retired judge Maximo Paderanga, and former Gingoog councilor Gopaldas Motoomull for the 1st District;

Provincial board members Nancy Madjos and Mercy Grace Acain, Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Center manager Gerardo Sabal, Tagoloan town agriculturist Peter Elman, and Emano’s brother-in-law Cagayan de Oro Councilor President Elipe for the 2nd District.

Like Dr. Moreno and Baculio, the inclusion of Paderanga, Motoomull, and Elman was finalized only over the weekend.

Vice Gov. Pelaez said he and other Padayon Pilipino candidates were optimistic that their party would emerge victorious in next year’s elections even as he gave his group’s chances “99.9 percent.”

Gov. Emano, for his part, said the capitol’s service and accomplishments since he assumed office in 2013 would bring the Padayon Pilipino victory in 2016.

“Isa ni sa among advantage ang nakita na sa mga tao ang among serbisyo,” said Emano. (with reports from lito rulona)

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