Thursday, April 05, 2007 Opposition cries foul amid Church's poll appeal By Lizanilla J. Amarga
EVEN as the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro is calling for "placing God in politics" including clean and honest elections, the local Genuine Opposition (GO)-PDP-Laban led by former mayor Pablo Magtajas is now crying foul as to how "gutter-level politics" is being employed to sabotage their campaign sorties.
GO-PDP-Laban appeals to the barangay officials particularly those aligned with administration Lakas-PaDayon Pilipino under Mayor Vicente Emano to stop sabotaging their campaign rallies but abide by the rules on "fair play."
Emano himself earlier issued a statement denouncing how his campaign rally was also marred. He said a stage prepared for them in Zone 12, Carmen was destroyed in the hopes of discouraging them from conducting their campaign rally in the area.
He then made a public call over a radio interview that political campaigns in the different areas in the city should be conducted at least with dignity and decency.
But the National People's Coalition (NPC)-Cagayan de Oro led by its own mayoral bet former Misamis Oriental governor Antonio Calingin said this is what both Magtajas and Emano's groups are getting for not honoring the entire Holy Week.
"We are being asked to honor the Holy Week not a mere Holy Day...that means the entire week," he said. "We should always remember that no matter how much effort we put into in our campaign but without God all these will be nothing."
Human dignity
In an interview with ABS-CBN, Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro Antonio Ledesma called upon all candidates and voters to "put God into politics."
"Let us be concerned for human dignity and for the common good then indeed we can renew our society," he said.
But already GO-PDP-Laban is accusing Emano of issuing orders to barangay officials to make sure that their campaign rallies do not actually push through even if it means employing "dirty politics."
These include turning down their permits to campaign in some barangays, cutting off power, putting up barricades, and threatening residents who want to attend their sorties.
Magtajas and his vice-mayoral bet incumbent City Councilor Alvin Calingin, First District congressional candidate Antonio Soriano, and Second District congressional bet Rufus Rodriguez are now appealing to the barangay officials not to employ such dirty tactics.
"We are only there to inform the people what our platforms are and the reasons that prompted us to run," said Rodriguez, who served as lawyer to former President Joseph Estrada.
Security purposes
Lawyer Manuel Ravanera, Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Misamis Oriental chapter former president now running for city councilor, questioned the motives behind the marring their campaign sorties.
"What is Emano afraid of? Perhaps he is afraid of the truth coming out and how Magtajas's group is gaining strength more and more," he said.
The opposition leaders recounted to media practitioners how their campaign sorties were sabotaged.
One recent incident was their campaign rally in F.S. Catanico Tuesday night after shelling out P1,000 to pay for the barangay permit to use the barangay's covered court.
They said they started their campaign rally at around 4 p.m. but when darkness came there was no light but only that coming from a 10 watts bulb despite the P1,000 payment that included the electricity.
Still, the opposition recounted how eight of their candidates for city councilors were able to render their speeches.
But then the 10 watts bulb's light was already flickering when some of these city councilors gave their speech.
"During my speech, the 10 watts bulb light was being turned off and on," said Ravanera.
He added that this was the similar experience of their other GO-PDP-Laban councilor bets Lapasan barangay chairman Bong Lao, lawyer Leon Gan Jr., Indahag barangay chairman Carmelito Damo, Pio Bacongo, Dr. Joebert Agcopra, Anatolio Caseres and incumbent city councilor Zaldy Ocon, in behalf of his wife Elsa.
But eventually when it was just about Calingin's turn to speak, the 10 watts bulb gave in and there was total darkness.
"The covered court was jampacked but for security reasons we have to disperse the crowd because there was just total pitch black darkness," Calingin said.
In Barangay Nazareth, the medical mission of the Practice is Care Ministry as coordinated by Rodriguez was not allowed to use the barangay health center.
Rodriguez said there were around 2,000 who wanted to avail of the medical services but those who wanted to do so will have to climb a hill where a private resident offered his residence for the doctors of this medical mission.
"This is not only in Barangay Nazareth but also in other barangays whose barangay officials are with Emano's camp," he said.
