Comelec denies Padayon Pilipino application

CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano and some of his councilors have slim chances of using their Padayon Pilipino Party in next year’s midterm elections.

This, after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) recently denied the application of Padayon Pilipino to be accredited as a local political party.

The Comelec decision left Emano, Vice Mayor Caesar Ian Acenas, Councilors Nadya Emano-Elipe, President Elipe, Juan Sia, Alexander Dacer and Emmanuel Abejuela without any political party.

Emano is formerly under the PDP-Laban of former senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. He organized Padayon Pilipino as a “neighborhood association” after he had a misunderstanding with Pimentel.

Emano then used the signature brand Padayon Pilipino in coalition with different national political parties in every election.

The organization had become solid for many years until recently, it applied for accreditation before the Comelec, which was denied.

But Comelec officials will reportedly hold a meeting today, Saturday, to finalize their decision about Padayon Pilipino’s accreditation application.

Emano said he is still hoping that Comelec will grant their application.

“Otherwise, the rest of my team will be under different umbrellas,” he said.

Emano will reportedly run under Senator Many Villar’s Nacionalista Party.

“If Comelec will grant our application, the rest of my team will come back to Padayon Pilipino,” he said.

For the meantime, Emano said Councilors Ian Nacaya and Alvin Calingin will be under Padayon Pilipino-LP while Councilor Pepe Abbu will be under Padayon Pilipino Laban.

On the other hand, Councilors Ramon Tabor and Adrian Barba will be under Padayon Pilipino-Lakas, Councilors Alden Bacal and Dante Pajo will be under Padayon Pilipino-Kampi, while Maya Enteria, lawyer Leon Gan and Councilor Annie Daba will be under Padayon Pilipino NPC.