Saturday, March 10, 2007 Oca, Jun show papers to back bid By Lizanilla J. Amarga
THE intense rivalry between Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno and Misamis Oriental 2nd District Rep. Augusto Baculio Jr. over who should be the administration coalition's official candidate for governor move to another level, from mere verbal tussles to actual presentation of documents.
However, both administration political titans, together with their respective political allies, failed to introduce a document that actually showed that either of them is President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Team Unity coalition bet.
Team Unity is composed of administration political parties Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (KAMPI), National People's Coalition (NPC), Laban Democratikong Pilipino (LDP) Angara-wing, and Liberal Party, among others.
Team Unity's arbitration committee, composed of representatives from all coalesced political parties, has yet to schedule the hearing for the resolution of the "local party conflict" between Moreno and Baculio, a chief of staff from a Team Unity senator said Friday.
"But we heard its going to be a zona libre (free zone) in your province," he told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
He explained that a "free zone" means the contending parties might be supported by their political parties but not as Team Unity bets.
The chief of staff, who requested anonymity for personal and political reasons, said each contending party is still entitled to election returns (ERs) in behalf of the political party they are representing after the casting of the ballots.
"As the country is still in the multi-party system and as long as the political party is fully accredited by the Comelec (Commission on Elections) then there is no problem with the ERs. They will be given copies," he said.
Moreno is the chairman of Lakas-CMD Misamis Oriental while Baculio is the regional head for Kampi Northern Mindanao.
Moreno was issued a Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance as the official candidate of Lakas-CMD for the position of governor of Misamis Oriental in the May Elections.
The certificate was signed by Lakas-CMD president House Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr. and acting secretary-general Marcelino Libanan. It was dated Feb. 19, 2007 and issued in Makati, Manila.
Baculio also got his own Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance from Kampi as its official candidate, also for governor of Misamis Oriental in the poll race.
The congressman's certificate, dated March 7, 2007, was signed by Kampi president Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte in Quezon City.
PaDayon Pilipino titular head Mayor Vicente "Dongkoy" Emano's son Tagoloan Mayor Yevgeny "Bambi" Emano was also given a certificate of nomination and acceptance from Lakas-CMD as congressman for the second district of Misamis Oriental in the May 2007 elections.
Also, re-electionists Lakas-CMD Misamis Oriental co-chairman First District of Misamis Oriental Rep. Danilo Lagbas and Gingoog City Mayor Ruthie Guingona were issued certificates of nomination and acceptance by Lakas-CMD.
During his regular radio program Friday, Moreno claimed they are now the "Team Unity official candidates" anointed by Arroyo.
He said Baculio is the official candidate for governor of Kampi and not Team Unity.
Another indication that they are Team Unity candidates is on how Mayor Guingona, wife of opposition former vice president Teofisto Guingona who called for the ouster of President Arroyo, still got nominated.
"She (Mayor Guingona) is now not only a guest candidate but she is even elevated higher as the official candidate of Team Unity for mayor of Gingoog City," he said. "This is because she (Mayor Ruthie) is the chairperson of LDP with Senator Ed Angara wing, which is part of Team Unity."
Also, Moreno said Mayor Bambi got the nomination despite the latter being a member only of PaDayon Pilipino and not of any of the political parties that comprises Team Unity.
He said this is because Lakas-CMD Misamis Oriental is in coalition with PaDayon Pilipino.
"And to my understanding, there is a direct relationship between PaDayon Pilipino led by Mayor Dongkoy and Lakas with Cong. Constantino Jaraula to Malacanang," he said.
But in a mobile phone interview with Baculio, the congressman laughed off Moreno's contention that the latter is already the "Team Unity official candidate."
