Wednesday, November 15, 2006 Mayor: No Padayon in Capitol By Danilo V. Adorador III
MAYOR Vicente Emano repudiated his political ties with the two top Misamis Oriental political figures, saying they are no longer part of his party.
Speaking in an obviously irked tone, Emano said he no longer considers Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno and the province's Second District Representative Augusto Baculio as Padayon Pilipino (PaDayon) members, stopping short of calling both as political ingrates.
"Mga PaDaplin Pilipino man kana sila, prangka nga pagka-istorya," Emano said over radio station dxIF, adding he was not only referring to Moreno and Baculio but also the members of the Provincial Board.
Moreno and Baculio are affiliated with the administration Lakas party, which in the previous elections, coalesced with PaDayon -- a regional party founded by Emano.
Emano's repudiation of both effectively ruptured the coalition.
Moreno has yet to decide whether to seek a second term while Baculio already announced he would challenge the incumbent governor.
Moreno however refused to issue comment Tuesday when reached by Sun.Star.
Emano -- a staunch supporter of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo -- did not say the implications of breaking the local coalition to his affinity with the national Lakas leadership, whose titular head is the President.
Emano's move capped months of speculations that he was breaking ties with Moreno, whose candidacy in the last elections he supported over a former protégé, former governor Antonio Calingin.
But the mayor clarified he was not dipping his fingers in Misamis Oriental politics, insisting he was only settling a purely internal party affairs.
Without specifying names, Emano said is tired of some members of his party who he said are only good at seeking political support, but eventually distancing themselves once in power.
"Do they think they are better than me?" he said, referring to Moreno and Baculio who he surmise would possibly enlist his support for their own campaigns.
Emano, who said he will remain active in Cagayan de Oro politics, is rumored to be rearing his son, Tagoloan Mayor Yevgeny Emano, for the Capitol seat.
But the mayor said his son has not yet laid out plans for the 2007 elections and that he respects the latter's political decisions.
