Friday, January 26, 2007 Emano opposes son's Lakas post in M. Oriental By Lizanilla J. Amarga
MISAMIS Oriental town mayors' league top honcho Tagoloan Mayor Yevgeny "Bambi" Emano is now appointed as the Lakas political party head for the second district of Misamis Oriental.
However, Bambi's father, Padayon Pilipino titular head Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano, would have none of it.
Emano said his estranged political ally in the May 14 Elections, Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno, visited him last Tuesday night at his residence together with First District of Misamis Oriental Congressman Danilo Lagbas and they have a talk.
The Padayon Pilipino founder, however, was unclear on whether he would be forced to support Moreno considering that his son Bambi is running as congressman for the second district of Misamis Oriental.
Also, Emano said Vice Governor Julio Uy recently paid him a visit to discuss the latter's gubernatorial plans.
During his regular radio program Thursday, Emano revealed how local Lakas political party lieutenants Moreno and Lagbas visited him bringing with them the appointment of his son, Bambi, as Lakas party head for the second district of the province.
"Though there is a standing coalition between Lakas and Padayon Pilipino, I still told them that I cannot allow my son to accept the appointment as head of the Lakas party in the second district of the province," he said.
For Emano, he would rather have Bambi run for the congressional post in the second district under the Padayon Pilipino banner and still help out Lakas but not as one of its top-ranking provincial political officer.
Emano who formerly served as governor of Misamis Oriental said those in the province who have been in the other side of the political fence have recently sought him out and they have reconciled their differences.
He said they include Lagbas who is now a regular in their nightly gigs and Gingoog City Mayor Ruthie Guingona, the wife of former vice president Teofisto Guingona, who ran against him as governor and had him ousted from the Provincial Capitol as governor.
Also, Moreno whom Emano recently lambasted for not standing up to an earlier agreement and even calling the governor as "ingrato" or ingrate over radio interviews.
Emano said he had a one-on-one talk with Moreno who will be seeking re-election this May 14.
He said the governor is worried over how all 14 municipal mayors in the second district is with third-term Congressman Augusto "Jun" Baculio Jr. who is also looking into running for the gubernatorial post.
Emano said Moreno also disclosed to him plans of putting up mayoral candidates against these municipal mayors who are siding with Baculio.
"But I told him (Moreno) that he should first talk with these municipal mayors (who are with Baculio) before putting up mayoral candidates in their respective towns to have a better assessment of the situation," he said.
"But I made it clear to him (Moreno) that it would be a political blunder if he should run for governor and will not put up a full slate of candidates in each of these municipalities," added Emano.
But when Emano was asked on whether he would be somehow "forced" to cast his support for Moreno considering that his son is running with the governor, the Padayon Pilipino head said he has not yet decided on whom to support for governor yet.
