MisOr vice guv leads filing of COC
-A A +ATuesday, October 2, 2012
MISAMIS Oriental Vice Governor Norris Babiera and his slate formalized their bids for the 2013 midterm elections when they were the first to file their certificates of candidacy (COC) Monday at the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Governor Oscar Moreno also led the province’s support team but the real drama unfolded when Misamis Oriental Rep. Peter Unabia (1st District, Misamis Oriental), in his first public appearance after joining the Liberal Party (LP), announced his support to Babiera as LP’s official candidate.
“Maybe some questioned my credibility for supporting Governor Babiera ug dula lang kini apan hugot ang akong suporta sa mga kandidato sa Liberal Party ug dili nako gubaon ang dignidad ug integridad sa akong pamilya tungod lang sa politika,” said Unabia, who is seeking reelection.
He vowed that all the mayors who also joined LP will sincerely support Babiera’s candidacy and all other candidates of LP.
Unabia admitted he had long been invited by several officials of LP in Manila, particularly Senator TG Guingona, to join the party.
“So who am I to refuse? But I want to make it clear nga wala ko nagtraydor sa PaDayon Pilipino because I told Congressman Bambi (Emano) about LP’s invitation,” he said.
Unabia is a known political ally of Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano, the founder of PaDayon Pilipino, in the previous elections but left the party and jumped to LP.
Another Emano ally, Provincial Board member Jesus Jardin, also filed his COC under LP. Jardin is eyeing the congressional seat for the province’s second district.
Jardin was once a critic of Babiera and the administration of Moreno but clarified that his conflict with Babiera is not “personal but on principle.”
“Gibarugan ko lang unsa ang akong pagtuo nga insakto ug girespetohan ko usab sila si Vice Governor Babiera ug Governor Moreno nga gibarugan pud nila ang ilang gituohan nga insakto, wala mi nag-away sa mga petty issues. We remained friends,” he said.
Moreno had earlier said he would file his COC on Wednesday afternoon while Emano and his team will file theirs on Friday.
Before filing their COCs, Babiera and his team attended a mass at the Provincial Capitol grounds, officiated by Msgr. Rey Monsanto.
Monsanto, parish priest of the Nazareno Parish in Cagayan de Oro, challenged local candidates to a conversion of hearts to achieve an honest and clean election.
“Unless you cannot be a true servant to the people, you cannot be a good leader. Love can only become concrete when you serve the people, and I hope this is each individual’s motivation in seeking public office,” he said.
Meanwhile, city Comelec officer Aleli Ramirez said she already expected a no-show of candidates during every first day of the filing of COC.
Ramirez said candidates are expected to flock on Wednesday and Friday, the last day of the filing set by Comelec.
She advised candidates to file their COCs before the 5:00 p.m. deadline on Friday since Comelec will no longer give consideration to late filers.
“Deadline is deadline, no ifs and buts since we are still giving priority to the registration of voters,” Ramirez said.
The Comelec had earlier suspended the registration of voters to give way to the filing of COCs.
Voters’ registration will resume on October 8 and ends on October 31.
Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper on October 02, 2012.
Local news
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