FORMER Misamis Oriental vice governor Julio Uy confirmed Wednesday that he will be replacing Representative Yevgeny Emano as the administration's official candidate in the province's second district.

"It’s final. I have accepted the offer of (Misamis Oriental) Governor Oscar Moreno," he said, adding that he and Moreno have already talked about it.

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“It has been finalized," said Uy, who lost to Emano in the 2007 elections.

Moreno, head of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD in the province, had yet to respond to Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro’s text message seeking comment on the matter.

Capitol spokesperson Maricel Rivera had no immediate information whether the administration party had deliberated Uy's announcement.

Over the weekend, the governor said Uy was one of those being considered in the slot, but added that the former Villanueva mayor had yet to decide to take the offer.

Although Emano is the Lakas head in his district, the governor said the second congressional seat was deemed vacant because the congressman's father, Cagayan de Oro Vice Mayor Emano, is backing the presidential bid of former President Joseph Estrada.

The elder Emano heads the indigenous PaDayon Pilipino (PaDayon) party, which has its own lineup in the province. PaDayon has already declared support for lawyer Michael Paderanga, the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) candidate for governor.

It was not immediately known whether the younger Emano will stay with Lakas despite the conflict, although he had earlier declared his support for the administration's standard bearer, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

Moreno said he was confident Emano would fulfill his promise to support Teodoro.

The entry of Uy in the administration party as Emano's replacement presents a role-reversal for both: Uy ran under the PMP in 2007 while Emano under the Lakas-PaDayon coalition. (ALR)