Emanos, Guingonas forge political alliance

MISAMIS Oriental province’s biggest political families, the Emano and Guingona clans, have decided to put an end to their bitter political rivalry.

Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Emano on Wednesday, April 25, announced the forging of an alliance with the Guingonas of Gingoog City.

Emano said he and Gingoog City Mayor Marie Guingona and the latter's mother, Ruthie, the city's vice mayor, are now formally allies after fruitful talks last Saturday, April 21.

Emano said the two parties decided to set aside past political differences “to better serve the people of Gingoog and the province.”

"Nahinabi ko didto sa kaulohan si kanhi Senator TG Guingona ug former Vice President Teofisto Guingona para sa hingpit nga pag-alyansa sa among pag-uban aron hingpit nga masilbihan ang katawhan sa Gingoog (I met with them to officially form our alliance for the people of the Gingoog)," Emano said.

The relationship between the Capitol executive and Gingoog City’s top officials has been improving since 2016 despite the two families’ different party affiliations.

The Guingonas ran under the Liberal Party (LP) in the 2016 election while the Emanos ran under the Padayon Pilipino, a regional party founded by the patriarch of the Emano clan, former Misamis Oriental governor and Cagayan de Oro City mayor Vicente ‘Dongkoy’ Emano.

The elder Emano and Ruthie Guingona had been rivals, running against each other for Misamis Oriental governor in 1995.

Emano was initially proclaimed governor but the Commission on Elections (Comelec) subsequently removed Emano after the latter was found guilty of cheating his rival. Ruthie Guingona was installed as Misamis Oriental governor with just months left in the term.

Now that the children of the two rivals have formed an alliance, the incumbent governor is calling on the people of the province to support aspiring village officials being backed by the Guingonas.

"Hangyo lang nako sa katawhan nga suportahan ninyo ang kinsa man nga mga kapitan nga buot suportahan ni Mayor Guingona aron paspas ang programa ug serbisyo nga mapaabot sa mga lomolopyo sa Gingoog (I urged the people of Gingoog to back the candidates supported by the Guingonas so that programs and services will be swiftly implemented in the city)," Emano said.