Wednesday, November 15, 2006 Diaz: Emano junks Moreno By Cris Diaz
AFTER a short-lived, whirlwind political marriage with Lakas, Padayon Pilipino finally said, "It is over."
Mayor Vicente "Dongkoy" Emano of Cagayan de Oro City on Monday categorically junked incumbent Governor Oscar Moreno of Misamis Oriental.
Emano, who heads Padayon Pilipino, an indigenous political party considered majority political party in locality, said the Padayon Pilipino is no longer supporting Moreno re-election bid next year.
The Padayon honcho made the decisive announcement in a radio interview with Manny Agustero's "Bombohanay Big Time" program over DXIF Radyo Bombo.
For those who keenly followed the sequence of past political events in the province, the pronouncement obviously indicated that Emano has lost confidence in Moreno.
Moreno (Lakas) was once a representative of the province's First District prior to his running for the gubernatorial post in 2004.
Padayon coalesced with Lakas and plucked Moreno from his post as congressman to run for Misamis Oriental governor. Emano took the risk to neutralize then Governor Antonio Calingin, also a top Padayon lieutenant, who was then starting to organize a splinter Padayon Pilipino group.
Moreno took the offer after Emano promised him gubernatorial victory. Indeed, Moreno and his line-up, most of them Padayon members, made a clean sweep of the May 2004 gubernatorial elections.
Many thought that the Emano-Moreno political marriage had a touch of the "Cinderella" fairy tale.
Imagine Padayon offering a "silver political platter" to a stranger (Moreno) who belonged to the other side of the political fence (Lakas)?
One could then only surmise how the Padayon was embarrassed, if not, frustrated in throwing support for Moreno.
But, the Padayon hierarchy was then left with no option but to swallow a "bitter political pill" in the person of Moreno. Apparently, it was but only to cripple Calingin's then obsession for political power.
Actually, the last straw that broke the camel's back that prompted the Padayon-Emano group to severe ties with Calingin was precipitated with the latter's alleged involvement with graft at the provincial capitol.
Now, after his administration had been consistently embroiled in alleged various anomalies, Moreno has Padayon's Sword of Damocles struck on his head.
"I will only support candidates with unsullied political record," Emano was once quoted as saying.
True to his word, Emano then described Padayon members who may be joining Moreno 's camp as "Padaplin (pull over) Pilipino."
The statement was short of saying that Padayon members who will still join Moreno will no longer be recognized by the Padayon political hierarchy.
Emano's statement was also a strong message to the entire Padayon Pilipino members to immediately withdraw political support to Moreno.
In fact, Mayor Yevgeney "Bambi" Emano, of Tagolo-an, an heir-apparent to elder Emano's political throne is now singing a different tune.
To recall, "Bambie" repeatedly expressed unequivocal support for Moreno. He discreetly albeit stubbornly insisted on running for Congress under Moreno 's ticket.
But after the announcement of a political break-off, Bambi then strongly hinted that the Padayon Pilipino hierarchy will now definitely dictate his future political fate.
Apparently, Moreno is now considering various options on how to overcome his fledgling political career.
Cris Diaz is adjudged "Best in Column Writing" by the Rotary Club of Metro Cagayan de Oro in 2000. He is Cagayan de Oro's only syndicated columnist
