INCUMBENT City Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin "Kikang" Uy welcomed former mayor Vincente "Dongkoy" Emano's vice-mayoralty bid however pointing out that the "old man should instead rest".
"Well, that is democracy, iyaha man ng katungod (it's his right), dili man nato mabut-an kinsa ang moatbang (we cannot choose who will be our opponents) but at the end of the day, katawhan man gihapon ang muhukom (it's still the people who will judge)," Uy said in a press conference Wednesday, October 17..
Uy said he is not worried that he will face a political giant, urging the people to compare their track record.
Uy recalled that during Dongkoy's stint as vice mayor, he was barely seen at the City Council to preside the weekly session.
"Ato nalang tabangan nga mapasabot sa iya nga untana ipapahulay nalang nato siya, sama pud sa gusto sa iyang pamilya. Mao man na ang gusto sa iyang pamilya nga dili na unta siya mahago kay tungod naa na siyay gibati (Let us help him understand that what he needs is a rest just like what his family wants, that he will be free from the stress because he is weak)," he said.
"Kung muingon mo siya ang strongest opponent okay lang, pero akoa lang nga ihanyag lang gihapon nako ang batakan nga serbisyo para sa katawhan sa dakbayan (He may be my strongest opponent but he will not stop me from offering my services to the people in the city)," Uy added.
Emano for his part told reporters that he was forced to join the vice-mayoral bid after his daughter, last-termer Councilor Nadya Emano-Elipe backed out to give his support to husband President Elipe who is running as vice governor in Misamis Oriental.
Emano said his bid does not mean to challenge anybody, but to continue serving the people.
A seasoned politician, Emano was the mayor of the city of Cagayan de Oro from 1998 to 2007 and again from 2010 to 2013; he was formerly the mayor of Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental from 1980 to 1983, governor of the province from 1986 to 1995 and Vice Mayor of Cagayan de Oro City from 2007 to 2010.
Prior to his election as vice mayor in 2016, Kikang Uy meanwhile served as barangay councilman of Carmen. He is the son of Cagayan de Oro first district Representative Rolando "Klarex" Uy and barangay Carmen village chair Lorna Uy.