MISAMIS Oriental Governor Yevgeny Emano has cried foul over the fraudulent acts of some individuals who used his name in transactions he is not aware of, even as he accused his political rivals as responsible for what he described as "desperate moves" to discredit his name.
Emano said on Monday, January 7, there were some people who went inside two popular restaurants in Gingoog City and dragged his name in making the transactions.
He refused to identify the name of the restaurants. The incident happened in two separate occasions last December.
The governor said the swindlers told the management that he supposedly ordered food good for 20 people, but they left when the order was about to be served.
"Ang ilang giingon sa management nga nagpaluto kuno ko og pagkaon good for 20 people nagluto pud tawon ang restaurant unya kalit sila nawala dihang naa na ang order," Emano said.
He said the bill in the two separate transactions totaled to around P10,000.
"Never in my life nga nikaon ko nga wala magbayad gani ga-advance pako kung magpa-order og pagkaon," he added.
The capitol's top official said he was surprised when the restaurants' management called his office and tried to collect the bill.
After the two incidents, Emano said he would look into it after the Kuyamis Festival concludes.
Emano said he could not think of other people who could do such thing except for his rivals in politics.
Emano is seeking for his third and final term as governor of the province in the May elections.
"Taktika kini sa politika nga nagkangil-ad. We are looking at it as desperation," Emano said.
Emano made a stern warning, "nobody is allowed to bring my name in the province of Misamis Oriental especially to solicit."
The governor also expressed his dismay after receiving complaints and reports that there were some individuals who went to the villages and allegedly identified themselves as personnel of the Misamis Oriental Care System (MisOr Cares) and promised residents to distribute free medicines but did not come back.
Emano said this is another "desperate" move of his political detractors to discredit his name and his flagship health care program.