MAYORAL bet Jose Gabriel "Pompee" La Viña and majority of the slate of the opposition coalition Padayon Pilipino-Centrist Democratic Party were a no-show at the Unity Walk and Peace Covenant signing at the Kiosko Kagawasan in Divisoria over the weekend due to issues on "neutrality."
La Viña on Monday, January 14, hit Mayor Oscar Moreno for supposedly taking advantage of the unity walk and peace covenant signing to advance his political agenda.
But, the opposition was represented by congressional candidate Rufus Rodriguez and some members of the CDP.
"Undangon na niya (Moreno) iyang palooy-looy nga iya pang gigamit ang unity walk nga naay demolition job. All his cases were not invented by his political enemies but these are results of his actions," La Viña said.
Moreno delivered the welcome remarks as told to do so.
La Viña also alleged that city hall employees were also required to attend the activity.
"Kung ingon-ana nga himoong politika ang unity walk dili na lang mi moadto. The unity walk should be neutral," La Viña said.
"Like Gov. Bambi ba nga naay delikadeza nga wala mohatag sa welcome remarks because he is a candidate. And his welcome remarks is dili man welcome speech palooy-looy man," he added.
However, La Viña did not take it against the organizers as he maintained that he supports activities aimed to promote honest, fair and peaceful elections.
"Dili pud unta ingon ana ang program or kung gipasulti si Moreno pasultihon pud unta tanan candidates," he added.
However, City Administrator Teddy Sabuga-a said the role of Moreno in the program was to welcome the participants in his capacity as the current city's chief executive and not as a candidate.
Sabuga-a said La Viña was insulting the organizers who initiated the activity.
"He is insulting the group who sponsored the activity. Nakaminus lugar sila ug walay salig sa police ug sa Comelec," Sabuga-a said.
"Sa police and Comelec kato nga activity. Ang pag-welcome ni Mayor Moreno is as city mayor," he added.
The unity walk, interfaith prayer rally and peace covenant signing was an initiative of the police in coordination with the poll body and the military to mark the start of the election period last Sunday, January 13.
Superintendent Surki Serenas, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao (PRO-10), said the police do not have intentions to either favor or give preference to any personality.
But, unlike in the city, Governor Yevgeny Emano declined to deliver the welcome remarks in the similar activity held at the police provincial headquarters in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.
Emano was also tasked to welcome the participants but he opted not to do so for fairness towards their political opponents.
"I was told to welcome the candidates but I declined kay basin isipon nga makalamang ko sa kaatbang kay ako ang incumbent," Emano said
"Naghangyo ko nga dili lang magdiskurso kay I want a fair start. If you want to start fair, start it right," he added.
Emano lauded the activity as it would encourage the candidates to observe an honest, fair and peaceful elections.