Moreno is Liberal Party’s official bet for mayor

MISAMIS Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno is the official candidate of Liberal Party (LP) for the mayoralty seat in Cagayan de Oro in next year’s elections after he received his certificate of nomination.

The certificate was signed by LP chair and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas last September 14, which Moreno received last September 19.

With the certificate came a document that designates Moreno as the LP chair in the city.

Moreno also is given the authority to nominate and issue certificates of nomination for all official local candidates of the LP for the 2013 national and local elections.

This is the first time that Moreno would run as mayor of Cagayan de Oro as his term as governor of Misamis Oriental ends next year.

Accepting the authorization and the responsibilities, Moreno commits to work for the victory of the party in the May 2013 elections.

Vice Governor Norris Babiera had earlier received his certificate of nomination as LP’s gubernatorial candidate for Misamis Oriental.

Babiera was also given the authority to nominate and issue certificates of nomination for all official local candidates of LP for Misamis Oriental.

Earlier, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) denied the application of incumbent Mayor Vicente Emano’s Padayon-Pilipino party as an accredited local political party.

Though the Comelec’s decision is not yet final, Emano said they would be left with no choice but to coalesce with other political parties.

Emano will reportedly run under Senator Many Villar’s Nacionalista Party while the rest of his city councilors will be under Padayon Pilipino-LP, Padayon Pilipino-Laban, Padayon Pilipino-Lakas, Padayon Pilipino-Kampi and Padayon Pilipino-NPC.

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

However, Maricel Rivera, head of the provincial press office, said an LP-Padayon Pilipino coalition is impossible.

Rivera said the selection of local LP candidates is now left with Moreno and it would be impossible for the governor to include an Emano ally. (Annabelle L. Ricalde)