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Monday, March 29, 2004
Emano camp engaged in vote-buy: Tagarda
FROM graft cases one of two opposition factions recently accused Mayor Vicente Emano of allegedly engaging in vote buying.
Vice-mayoralty bet Manolo Tagarda alleged that the mayor alloted P50,000 each to various sitio leaders in the barangays where they campaigned.
However, Tagarda said it is but proper for the people to receive the money given to them.
"Wala ako niingon nga ayaw ninyo dawata...dawata ninyo tungod kay kinawat man gihapon kana nga kuwarta (I'm not saying you shouldn't accept the money...accept it because that money was stolen from you)," the former centennial mayor said.
Tagarda, who is also a former councilor, got included in the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino-PDP-Laban fold (KNP-PDP Laban) despite running under the Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa banner of disqualified candidate Eddie Gil.
He said his attacks on Emano are not intended to harm the political ambitions of his daughter, Councilor Michelle Tagarda.
The younger Tagarda disregarded a family decision not to run and instead filed her candidacy for vice-mayor under the Padayon Pilipino party.
"Bug-at ang akong buot tungod kay gikaluoy ko ang akong anak," he said. (I am depressed because I pity my daughter.)
Aside from vote buying, Tagarda accused Emano's group of staging rallies in areas where the KNP-PDP Laban coalition had finished theirs.
He cited one incident in Barangay Patag where they arrived there first but were surprised to see the Padayon lineup there.
Tagarda said they were confident to stage their rally there because the barangay chairperson in Patag is under their fold.
"Didto bitaw ka Canitoan niingon si Emano nga daghan kuno ningtambong sa iyang rali pero ang tinuod mga kuwarintahon ra ka buok," he said. (In Barangay Canitoan, Emano said there were many spectators during their rally but the truth is there were only 40 persons.)
The former councilor also thanked Vice Mayor John Elizaga who remained at his post despite a rumored offer of P1 million to resign.
Tagarda said had Elizaga resigned her daughter would have assumed the vice mayoralty post since she is the number one ranked councilor based on previous votes.
"Ug sa panahon sa eleksiyon kong maglibog ang tawo pagbotar kay pulos Tagarda maadto sa akong anak ang akong buto kay mao man kini ang balaod," he explained. (During the election when the voters would be confused because both of us are carrying the same surname my votes will go to her because it is in the law.)
The father-daughter relationship hit the rocks with the elder Tagarda launching tirades against Emano and daughter Michelle defending the mayor.
In an interview over at radio station dxCL, Emano blamed the elder Tagarda for causing the division of his family.
"I admit I am a man of the world and I played around but I never broke up a family," the mayor insisted. (Jenefer Besere)
(March 29, 2004 issue)
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