MISAMIS Oriental Governor Yevgeny Emano said he was surprised with the congressional bid of vice governor Joey Pelaez who left the Emano-led Padayon Pilipino and joined the opposition.
Emano said Pelaez did not inform him of his intention to seek a congressional seat for the first district of the province in the 2019 elections.
Pelaez filed his Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) on Wednesday together with the opposition slate led by Emano's challenger, former Villanueva town mayor Julio Uy.
"I was hoping nga siya gihapon akong bise gobernador kay plano namo nga dungan mi nisulod dungan sad mi mahuman sa among termino," Emano said.
(I was hoping he will still be my vice governor because we planned that we started together as a team then we will also finish the term together)
However, he said the vice governor would not have gotten yet an assurance of the party's support for his bid had he earlier manifested his intention to run for congress because it would have to be deliberated.
Emano said he does not know why Pelaez suddenly breaks away from the party.
"Wala koy madumduman nga nakasilo or nakasala ko sa iya. I wish him all the luck," he added.
(I can’t remember anything I did against him or may have offended him. I wish him all the luck)
The administration group is instead supporting the congressional bid of Christian Unabia, the son of last-termer congressman Peter Unabia after the alliance of the two parties was sealed.
On the other hand, Emano said the capitol has delivered the best public service over the past six years contrary to the opposition's claims that his administration only focuses on politics.
"Bisan sa atong kapobrehon daghan dalan napasemento, daghan kooperatiba natabangan, daghan estudyante napaeskwela, daghang barangay naayudahan pinaagi sa barangay empowerment, ug uban pang serbisyo, Aha man ang politika ana?" Emano said.
(Despite our poverty there were several roads paved, cooperatives that were helped, students who were able to go to school, several barangays were provided assistance through barangay empowerment and other services. Where is politics there?)