LOCAL opposition figures defended Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno Monday in his word war with Cagayan de Oro Vice Mayor Vicente Emano, calling the latter a “control freak”, who treats party mates as “slaves” rather than equals.

Gusa barangay chief Enrico Salcedo and Councilors Teodulfo Lao and Roger Abaday said they know whereof they speak: They were once loyal adherents of PaDayon Pilipino — the indigenous party founded by Emano.

“Been there, done that. We know how the system works in PaDayon; it’s a one-man party wherein Emano has the last say on everything. The rest are just slaves,” said Salcedo, who launched an unsuccessful City Council bid in 2007 under Emano’s party.

Emano, who ran with Moreno under the administration coalition in the last two elections, said he wouldn’t mind the governor jumping off from PaDayon.

He said his rift with Moreno started after the latter won the 2004 elections—when the governor failed to accommodate an employment request for a rebel returnee. It became worse, he said, after the governor allegedly declined a request for the use of the Pelaez Sports Center—a facility jointly owned by the province and the city.

Lao said these did not justify Emano’s “constant tirade against the governor,” but added that the attacks were "understandable."

“There is more than meets the eye in these attacks. At first instance, these may seem trivial.  But if you look into them deeper, then you’ll get the sense that Emano--a control freak--had wanted to use Gov. Moreno,” Lao said. “And because Gov. Moreno doesn’t want to play footsies with the reputed political kingpin in this part of the country, then the governor becomes the vilest creature in the eyes of Emano,”
Abaday agreed.

“Being a former insider, we know his (Emano) leadership style and it goes like this: I will scratch your back and I will scratch yours,” Abaday said. “But oftentimes, you’re hurting with the constant back-scratching that you would not want him to touch you anymore.”

Emano has been firing broadsides at Gov. Moreno in the recent months, but it has only escalated into a full-blown political rigodon recently after the governor broke his silence and fired back—suggesting he will mount a campaign in the city by forming an alliance of sorts among the local opposition.

Moreno made the statement after being apparently stung by allegations of his purported refusal to allow one of the city’s festival activities inside the Pelaez Sports Center. He said he declined the use of the sports center only because the proposed activity could damage the facility’s rubberized tracks.

The governor hinted that it was the vice mayor who sowed “intrigues” that he declined the request out of a whim, saying it was in Emano’s nature to do so.
These prompted more inflammatory remarks from Emano, a former governor of the province and a three-term mayor of the city.

The head of PaDayon party said he would support anyone challenging the incumbent governor, whom he described as “worse” than former Gov. Antonio Calingin—a former protégé that he abandoned in favor of Moreno in 2004.

He said he would even be delighted if his son, Misamis Oriental Rep. Yevgeny Emano (1st district), would challenge Gov. Moreno’s re-election in 2010.

The young Emano is said to be close to Moreno, and has not yet announced his plans for 2010.(ALR/DVAIII)