Thursday, January 18, 2007 Diaz: Padayon's sepulchral silence By Cris Diaz
THE Padayon Pilipino in Misamis Oriental is sealing its lips on the political turbulence confronting the province today.
Padayon Pilipino is an indigenous political party organized locally in the early 90s. It is now considered dominant political party in the province of Misamis Oriental and the city of Cagayan de Oro.
As a local political party, it usually coalesced with the dominant political party in the national level.
In 2004, Padayon Pilipino almost split when then Gov. Antonio Calingin tried to form a splintered Padayon Pilipino group in Misamis Oriental.
Calingin's Padayon coalesced with Estrada's opposition Partido ng Masang Pilpino and FPJ.
But Calingin's defeat in his re-election bid also led to the untimely demise of the Padayon splintered group.
In contrast, the Padayon Pilipino led by City Mayor Vicente Emano, Padayon's titular head, of Cagayan de Oro City, coalesced with President Gloria Arroyo's Lakas-NUCD political party.
In Misamis Oriental, then Congressman Oscar Moreno, (Lakas) coalesced with the Emano-led Padayon Pilipino and ran as the administration's gubernatorial bet.
Although Moreno won the gubernatorial seat, he had the majority of Padayon Pilipino candidates under the Lakas ticket winning the provincial board.
In Cagayan de Oro City, Padayon's political ticket with Emano as standard bearer made a clean sweep leaving only one seat in the City Council to an opposition candidate.
Thus, under the present political set-up in Misamis Oriental and the City of Cagayan de Oro, the Padayon Pilipino remains the dominant political party.
In spite of this inherent political strength, Padayon, as a political party, remained unfazed with the current political squabble in Misamis Oriental.
Emano, as titular head of Padayon Pilipino, has not issued statements supporting any of the gubernatorial candidates in Misamis Oriental.
Although Padayon Pilipino was instrumental in winning the gubernatorial seat for incumbent governor Oscar Moreno in Misamis Oriental, Emano did not lift a finger.
On the contrary, Emano announced that he is no longer supporting Moreno's reelection bid. As head of Padayon, Emano's statement is considered a message to all Padayon members in Misamis Oriental to stop supporting Moreno, too.
As a result, an exodus of town Mayors took place in the later part of December pledging alliance with Congressman Augusto "Jun" Baculio of the province Second Congressional District.
Like Moreno, Baculio (Lakas), also ran for reelection in a coalition with Padayon Pilipino.
Baculio formed the Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (KAMPI) political party in Misamis Oriental. Kampi is President Arroyo's political party, which coalesced with Lakas-NUCD in the 2004 presidential elections.
But then, Emano was not happy with Baculio's initiative. Instead, Emano furiously announced that he is not also supporting Baculio. In other words, Padayon Pilipino is, at the moment, not supporting any gubernatorial candidate in Misamis Oriental!
Many were caught by surprise with Emano's pronouncement. Not with Padayon hierarchy who described Emano's withdrawal of support to Baculio and Moreno as "expected."
Emano's pull out with Moreno is reportedly precipitated with the latter's alleged graft ridden administration at the provincial capitol.
Baculio also got Emano's ire for forming and organizing KAMPI without first forging an agreement with Padayon.
The situation was aggravated when Baculio fielded his son to run for the congressional seat in the province's Second Congressional District. (Email: cris_d1954@yahoo.com)
