Monday, April 16, 2007 Koko: I don't know of PDP-Laban 'rift' By Stephen Capillas
SENATORIAL aspirant Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III denies any knowledge of reports of alleged political maneuvering done by the PDP-Laban local candidates in Cagayan de Oro.
The senatorial candidate and son of Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. was asked by local media in last week's press conference whether he was aware of reports that PDP-Laban mayoralty candidate Pablo Magtajas was secretly campaigning for congressional candidate and Councilor Annie Daba.
"No, I was unaware of that. I am focused on the senatorial campaign and, generally, I leave it up to the local candidates and leaders here to decide who of the candidates would be fielded and supported," the younger Pimentel said.
The statement was issued amid speculations of an inner rift existing within the local PDP-Laban lineup with former vice mayor Antonio Soriano reportedly not in good terms with the rest of the partymates.
Magtajas and Daba are in-laws and with the administration Padayon Pilipino unable to accommodate her in their lineup, the councilor filed for candidacy under the Kampi banner.
Even though Kampi is affiliated with the Lakas banner which in turn is in coalition with the local Padayon Pilipino party of founder Mayor Vicente Emano, Daba is endorsing Magtajas of PDP-Laban instead of the administration mayoralty aspirant, Cagayan de Oro Representative Constantino Jaraula.
Relations between Magtajas and Soriano are said to be lukewarm at best according to insiders, while Soriano is said to be in a "cold war" of sorts with recent PDP-Laban entries like opposition Councilor Zaldy Ocon.
Ocon accused Soriano of having ties with Mayor Vicente Emano, through the former's law office, which handled the affairs of construction firm UKC builders that won the bidding for the city's market re-development projects.
Even with Emano claiming that he met Soriano in some meetings, Soriano denied any ties with the mayor and even said it had been a long time since he met the mayor.
The failure of the PDP-Laban Cagayan de Oro City chapter to field a united lineup of candidates back in 2004 led to what observers said was its near-total defeat in the elections, with only Councilor Ocon managing to enter the City Council.
Soriano and then Pimentel pointman lawyer Ed Tamondong were each trying to secure the elder Pimentel's endorsement for their respective mayoralty bids back in 2004. Tamondong did not get the senator's support.
As a result, Tamondong eventually became the lawyer of controversial ex-Comelec commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and a fierce critic of Pimentel.
Tamondong recently filed anti-graft charges against the senator and his son for their alleged use of Senate funds to finance the latter's campaign while the younger Pimentel responded by filing charges of malicious mischief against him.
