Monday, November 13, 2006
20 Misamis Oriental execs vow loyalty to Baculio
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
ALMOST 20 town mayors from the 24 towns of Misamis Oriental, including Gingoog City, met with Representative Augusto Baculio Jr. Friday to declare their "undivided loyalty" to the legislator who is eyeing the gubernatorial seat in the May 2007 elections.
Former Misamis Oriental governor now Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano disclosed that around five of the 18 mayors called him up around 12:10 a.m. Saturday to ask whether he would seek the gubernatorial post in the local elections next year.
Emano's son and Tagoloan mayor Yevygeny "Bambi" Emano is reportedly gearing up to run as congressman in the second district of Misamis Oriental and would possibly clash head-on with either Baculio's son, Rex, or his brother and current Misamis Oriental I Electric Cooperative (Moresco I) president Pedrito "Toytoy" Baculio.
But Toytoy Baculio said he is also eyeing the possibility of running under the partylist Apec for a House of Representatives seat.
Two young men both from the Emano Family are vying to get the blessing of both Dongkoy and Bambi Emano to run as mayor for Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.
Earlier, Misamis Oriental sitting Governor Oscar Moreno said he will disclose his political plans this December.
In a text message to Sun.Star, Congressman Baculio confirmed that indeed the municipal mayors held a meeting last Friday in relation to his plans to run as governor of Misamis Oriental in the 2007 elections.
"Mayors just declared their undivided loyalty that's all we hope that everybody will accept our decision," his text message reads.
Good attitude
During his Mayor's Move radio program last Saturday, Emano also confirmed that there were 18 mayors who attended last Friday's meeting with Baculio here in the city.
He said those who were not around were only Opol mayor Dixson Yasay as he was in Davao City, Medina mayor Pastor Salarda, Claveria mayor Rocky Calingin and Magsaysay mayor Mugot.
"But I think some of them would still be supporting Baculio for governor," he said in the dialect.
Emano, who is known to be the political kingpin in the city and Misamis Oriental, revealed that five of the 18 mayors called him up that the meeting with Baculio was still ongoing even if it was already over at 12 a.m. Saturday.
He said the mayors asked him on whether he would be running for governor of Misamis Oriental in the 2007 elections particularly as Baculio has already announced plans to run for the same post.
"The mayors told me that their meeting with Congressman Baculio is still ongoing but there is still no open declaration but definitely Baculio is running," he said.
Emano said he appreciates how Baculio is handling the gathering of support from these municipal mayors.
"Congressman Baculio has a good attitude on this as he is just informing the mayors that if any mayor will support him then such mayor would be his ally but if not then he will respect his decision," he said.
Debt of gratitude
Emano revealed that it was "unnecessary" for these municipal mayors to consult him on any of their moves since it is he who owes them a "debt of gratitude".
The municipal mayors helped him out with the signature drive for the People's Initiative in shifting from the presidential form of government to parliamentary against the coldness of the Moreno Administration on the campaign.
"What I did (gathering support for the shift to parliamentary form of government) was for Mindanao," said Emano.
He added that he even owed those town mayors who were in the opposition in the May 2004 Elections including Mayor Jardin in Jasaan, Calingin and Salarda.
Emano said this is among the reasons why he is committed to supporting these municipal mayors who helped him out in the signature campaign.
"But my commitment is only to them and they do not need to consult me," he said.
But now that the municipal mayors told him that Congressman Baculio is "definitely running" for governor in the May 2007 elections, Emano said then it would be up to them to decide.
"That is now up to you," he said.
One-on-one
If what the municipal mayors disclosed would push-on, Emano said the 2007 May Elections will then be between the camps of Moreno and Baculio, should he decide not to run.
"Now that Congressman Baculio has delivered in no uncertain terms that he is running, it's going to be a one-on-one race between the incumbent governor and the incumbent congressman, unless I decide to run for governor," he said.
He added that he has not talked out with Baculio for a "long time now."
Emano said this as he cautioned the camp who openly declared that he will run for governor regardless of who the challenger is even including him.
"They should not say things like this as we might indeed answer their challenge," he said.
"It is not over until its over except that for now it's a fight between the governor and the congressman but for the congressional election, definitely I will be there."
Emano's son Bambi, who is serving his last term as mayor of Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, is allegedly planning on seeking the congressional seat for the Second District of Misamis Oriental.
He would then be crossing swords with either Congressman Baculio's son Rex or Toytoy Baculio.
But Toytoy Baculio for his part said he is also eyeing the possibility of running under the partylist Apec and still grab a chair at the House of Representatives.
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (November 13, 2006 issue)
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