Roxas calls Emano as ‘drama’ expert

AFTER almost three days of what seems to be a “political tension,” Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas regarded Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano’s episode with his supporters camping out at City Hall since Monday morning as purely “drama.”

"Ano po bang drama yan, kasama po ba yan sa Metro Manila Film Festival? Kawawa naman ang mga tao na nadadala sa Sine Festival niya,” Roxas rued when interviewed over local radio station Bombo Radyo.

Roxas said he knew Emano for quite a time as an expert in “scenario building” and that self-confessed suspension order was all part of his “political gimmickry.”

According to the DILG chief, the graft charges filed against Emano are still in the Legal Department and those are not yet among his priorities.

“He’s not that important,” Roxas said of Emano.

He said the country is facing many problems such as the “endless typhoons” and the shootouts that needed most of the government’s attention.

"Busy po kami dito tungkol sa ibat-ibang bagay pero kahit po importanteng tao si Mayor Emano, hindi po siya ang sentro ng Pilipinas (We are still busy with other things, and even if Mayor Emano is an important person, he is still not the center of the Philippines)," Roxas added.

But the city administration councilors have their own story, even accusing the opposition party for promoting the “drama” issue.

Councilor Dante Pajo said the opposition councilors were the first to announce the suspension order of Mayor Emano that triggered the latter’s reaction in his radio program over the weekend.

“Sila baya ang nag-una una og announce nga suspended si Mayor (They were the first announce Emano’s suspension),” Pajo said.

The supporters, Pajo said, have only until 5 p.m. of Wednesday to gather outside the City Hall.