Thursday, February 15, 2007 Vice guv denies forming Padayon faction By Lizanilla J. Amarga
MISAMIS Oriental Vice-Governor Julio Uy denied reports that he is forming his own PaDayon Pilipino faction, saying his move to seek out the National Opposition (UNO) is his own "personal" act.
As this developed, local political party PaDayon Pilipino top honcho and Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano revealed that administration Lakas-CMD Misamis Oriental chairman Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno is still "hesitant" in forming a full slate.
Uy said he is now studying moves on how to really seek out the support of UNO.
Uy is the treasurer and the highest-ranking elected official of the PaDayon Pilipino political party in Misamis Oriental. PaDayon Pilipino is a local opposition party with former president Erap Estrada. But its top honcho, Emano, has now maintained his support for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Uy's move to seek out the support of UNO could mean clashing with the PaDayon Pilipino's stand in supporting the administration.
Because of this and other numerous factors, Moreno who is seeking re-election earlier surmised that Uy is now trying to have his own PaDayon Pilipino faction that will support the latter in his gubernatorial candidacy.
But Uy denied forming his own PaDayon Pilipino faction, saying his move to seek out the opposition is a personal move.
"I do not have the authority of the PaDayon Pilipino to speak on these matters. Kini ako lang ni (this is on my own volition)," he said.
"I am inclined to join the opposition but on a personal capacity, considering that I am the highest ranking official elected who is a member of a local opposition party," Uy said.
Nevertheless, Uy said UNO's national leaders already know of his desire to join the opposition and are just waiting for him.
Last week, Emano said he has already given Uy's name to Estrada and his son San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito when he visited the former president in his detention in Tanay, Rizal.
Meanwhile, a source who requested anonymity said Misamis Oriental leaders are now waging a war against each other.
The source said Kampi Misamis Oriental top honcho Congressman Augusto Baculio Jr. is contesting the support cast by their national coalition for Moreno's gubernatorial bid under the doctrine of 'equity of the incumbent.'
The source said Baculio is questioning such support considering that Kampi is the "dominant party" in Misamis Oriental with 17 of the 24 municipal mayors, including Gingoog City's.
"But more importantly, Baculio is trying to convince the national coalition that the municipal mayors and barangay officials have already left Moreno's side and it would be political suicide to cast their support for the incumbent governor," the source said in Filipino.
Also, the source said former Misamis Oriental governor Antonio Calingin, the father of NPC-Misamis Oriental head Claveria Mayor Rocky Calingin and NPC Cagayan de Oro top official, is in Manila to lobby for his son, Andy Calingin.
The source said the Calingin's want their own local political lieutenant Andy Calingin to be the national administration coalition's congressional bet for the second district of Misamis Oriental instead of Baculio's son, Rex.
Also, there are reports that Moreno is also batting that the national coalition 'adopt' Emano's son Tagoloan mayor Yevgeny "Bambi" Emano as his congressional bet in this May poll race.
In a related development, Emano said Moreno recently visited him again in his residence where the latter sought his advice.
He said he found out that Moreno is still hesitant in coming up with a full slate, considering that the mayors being supported by PaDayon Pilipino are now with Kampi led by Baculio.
This, as Moreno's mayors might have to cross swords with those being supported by the Emanos.
"I told him (Moreno) not to worry and that he should now finalize his full slate as it would be a great embarrassment on his part when he runs as governor but does not have a full slate," he said in the vernacular.
