Mayor: Absence in ‘Unity Walk’ unintentional

CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano lamented at how the local media has played up his absence in last Friday’s unity walk and peace covenant signing, saying it was “unfair and uncalled for.”

Emano, over the weekend, blurted in his radio program “Mayor’s move” at Mellow Touch FM that he did not deliberately snub the event led by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and that he always expressed support toward achieving a peaceful, clean and honest election this May.

He said he was taken aback by the local media’s play-up of the “no-show angle” of his supposed unintentional absence.

The day after the Comelec-led event, at least two local television news, four dailies and two radio stations bannered Emano’s absence.

“I already told Vice Mayor Acenas and the rest of the group that I will be meeting some investors in the airport early that day. Kung makaapas, then I will just catch up with the activity,” Emano said.

In an interview during the unity walk last week, Vice Mayor Caesar Ian Acenas backed Emano’s claim that the latter was entertaining visiting “important investors.”

“Kato bitaw’ng unity walk sa Misamis Oriental nga si Congressman Bambi lang nga grupo ang nitunga ug wala ang grupo ni Vice Governor Norris wala ma’y madungog o mabasa nga batikos sa media,” Emano said.

The Comelec office in Cagayan de Oro, in collaboration with the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and National Citizen’s Movement for Free Election (Namfrel), invited local candidates for the city’s elective position to sign the peace covenant for a Secure and Fair Election (Safe).

According to Emano, he has been encouraging for peaceful and honest elections since the start of his public life.

The peace covenant urges the local candidates to adhere to the Omnibus Election Code and not resort to vote-buying or election-related violence.

By signing the covenant, Comelec city election officer Aleli Ramirez said this points to the candidates willingness to uphold and follow the regulations imposed by the poll body for a peaceful election.

She appealed to the candidates to remember what they have signed for in the peace covenant -- to observe campaign conditions and ensure a fair, honest, peace and clean elections in the city.

Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro’s second district Representative Rufus Rodriguez urged other candidates to make an effort to visit the Comelec office to sign the covenant.

“Pwede pa man sila mopirma aron ipakita usab ang ilang commitment para sa usa ka malinawon, hapsay ug matinud-anon nga election,” Rodriguez said.