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Friday, November 04, 2005
Mayor denies traders in party poll bets
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
LOCAL political kingpin Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano denied allegations that he is eyeing more big-time businessmen to be part of his party ticket as councilor bets for the upcoming 2007 elections.
The mayor has earlier announced that he is looking into having Oroport Cargohandling Services Inc. chairman Franklin "Bobo" Siao, Parasat Cable owner Elpie Paras, and Ultracraft owner Jun Suan to ran as among his candidates for city councilors.
But there were reports received by several media practitioners Thursday that Emano is also eyeing local businessmen Willy Chu, Dodong Uy, Henry Tan, Stephen Gaisano, Lorenzo Limketkai and Albino Limketkai, George Gordiel and Willy Limbonhai to be among his bets for councilors this coming elections. These traders are known to be close friends of Emano.
Chu is reportedly the owner of King Williams, Troy Karaoke and some other small motels, Uy is owner and operator of UKC Builders Inc. that scooped up almost all the major contracts the City Government could offer under Emano's administration while Tan is a local textile businessmen owning Modtrade Inc.
Gaisano runs and operates the Gaisano City and Mall while the Limketkais are the owners of the sprawling Limketkai Mall and business center. Gordiel reportedly served as one of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's local political lieutenants while Limbonhai is into several businesses including hotel, rice and corn, real estate and a local school.
But in an interview over dxIF Bombo Radyo Thursday, Emano said, "Pilde nako ana. Luoy na kaayo ko ana (I would lose if that is the case. I would be in a pitiful state)."
The mayor said he could not fathom where such reports could have come from but that he would like to assure his supporters he is picking only those people who have the heart to truly serve the people and not dip their hands on the city's coffers.
He said he could not believe that Chu, Gordiel and Limbonhai would be pursuing any political careers.
"I don't know where such reports that Willy Chu, Gerry Gordiel and Limbonhai would run," he said.
Emano said Uy, Tan and the Limketkais, although "good men", are not likely to waste their time and millions in seeking any public position.
"Dodong Uy would probably say he would rather jump off a bridge," he said. "Henry Tan would probably say that he might as well go back to Jolo. Lorenzo and Albino Ketkai are good people but they would just like to just help the people of the city without any political motivation."
Emano said he already has his list of whom he would be asking to run for city councilor and that it does not matter whether they are rich or poor as long as they have the desire to serve the people.
"Ma-abin nako nga mga tao bisan kabus basta naay gusto nga mo-alagad sa katawhan pero kini sila wala man gyud kini sila nga maghisgot sa politika," he said.
Emano said he would have wanted Tan to run for city councilor but the latter has no such political ambition and, thus, so far he is sticking it out for Suan, Paras and Siao.
"I am just making sure of things as this is the end of my term and there are traitors around who would turn their backs on me such as what happened when I was placed in a tight situation when I was to be locked in prison when I was still a governor even those mayors who were close to me left me history will repeat itself," he said.
(November 4, 2005 issue)
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