CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno Wednesday, May 8, welcomed the possibility of City Councilor Nadya Emano joining the vice mayoralty race to replace his father, the late former mayor Vicente “Dongkoy” Emano.

“Ila na nga katungod, they have until election day to do that,” Moreno said.

Moreno said the Padayon Pilipino party may have to weigh the implications.

“That doesn’t mean that Nadya is a better candidate. Dili man mahimo nga kaabag si Nadya, babag gihapon, lisod gihapon,” he said.

“In the end, the people should discern what they want, who they want to vote,” he added.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said if the death or disqualification should occur between the day before the election and mid-day of Election Day, the substitute candidate may file a COC with any board of election inspectors, election officers, provincial election supervisor or regional election director in the political subdivision where such person is a candidate, or in the case of a candidate for senator, with the Law Department.

This would be acceptable, provided that the substitute candidate and the substituted candidate have the same surnames.

Moreno’s voting preference is 60.3 over the 23.3 percent of his closest rival Pompee La Viña, while 1st district congressional candidate Klarex Uy enjoys 64.8 percent voters preference over closest pursuer Ian Acenas who is at 15.4 percent.

Vice Mayor Kikang Uy is also enjoying 59.3 percent over the late mayor Dongkoy Emano who had 28.4 percent.

“Dili gihapon ta kumpyansa, ang importante is dili lang kita unta but vote straight,” he said.

Moreno said he was happy that 2nd congressional candidate Alam Lim’s performance in the surveys has improved.

“The message is getting across. Lim’s election as 2nd district congressman will stop the disconnect between the City Hall and the office of the 2nd district congressman. Our partnership with district 1 congressman Klarex Uy is instrumental in fostering inclusive growth in the city. Through our teamwork, upland barangays are no longer inaccessible hinterlands as they are now connected to the city with concrete farm-to-market roads,” he said.