Wednesday, March 21, 2007 Capillas: Emano and the RMN explosion By Stephen Capillas The Lowdown
WITH the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy a mere one week away, one has to wonder what the Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) explosion has to do with the local elections here in Cagayan de Oro?
Apparently more than something, if one were to consider the fact that Butch Canoy, the son of RMN founder Henry Canoy, was reported as seeking the endorsement of Mayor Vicente Emano for one of two congressional district seats of the city, even if he is not a member of the mayor's Padayon Pilipino party.
At least that's what the mayor claimed. According to sources who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal, the explosion that struck both an RMN vehicle and damaged the station's signage merely reflected the inner rumblings inside.
The younger Canoy reportedly wanted opposition Councilor Zaldy Ocon to tone down his criticism of the mayor, which the official rejected. Just yesterday (Tuesday), the opposition councilor lashed out anew at City Hall's proposed public market project in Agora, Lapasan.
Ocon's absence at the time of the explosion, coming in the wake of his appointment as acting station manager, merely raised more eyebrows and questions than answers and had focused attention on whatever troubles the station may be experiencing at the moment.
The same sources we asked claimed that Ocon is not active in the station's daily operations to the point that he's not even signing the checks. The veracity of such claims is another matter altogether.
In TV interviews, the opposition councilor denied allegations made by Mayor Emano in a TV interview and others that the explosion was a "bomb me" gimmick, in much the same way that Ocon was accused of staging his own ambush and kidnapping in the years prior to his eventual successful run at the City Council.
But the recent disclosure by Emano of Canoy's plans for a Congress seat may have placed a monkey wrench on Ocon's plans for re-election. Whether this development may create trouble at the Canoy network is a matter of speculation at this point.
And like him or hate him, you have to admit that Emano certainly knows how to play his cards and pull the right strings--not a few people would call it playing dirty and it most certainly looks that way if one were to look back at the "Tagarda episode" of 2004 as an example.
For those unaware, then Councilor Michelle Tagarda was somehow convinced by Mayor Emano to run for vice-mayor despite plans by her father, former Councilor Manolo Tagarda Sr., to run for the same post.
At any rate this resulted in a bitter family dispute among the Tagarda family, which the elder Tagarda continues to be bitter about to this day. Though there may be signs that the feud may cool off as evidenced by Vice-Mayor Tagarda-Spiers reiterating her intention not to run for Congress and oppose her father's congressional bid in this year's elections.
But what do you know, Emano has found a new toy to play with and Ocon may not realize that his strings are being pulled by his "former fan."
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