FORMER political allies Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno and Gingoog City Vice Mayor Peter Unabia will likely become opponents, as both expressed interest to join the gubernatorial race in 2022 elections.
Barely a day after Moreno announced he is "seriously considering" running for governor in Misamis Oriental on Wednesday, December 11, Unabia said he is ready to face Moreno and take the Capitol's top position.
"Ready kaayo (Very ready)," Unabia said.
Unabia, the province's former first district representative, has already forged alliance with incumbent Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano. He said Emano is pushing him to succeed his administration in the province.
"Sa among alyansa ni Governor Bambi, ako ilang gi-push, honestly, naa lugar, kung timbangon, modagan. Pero kinahanglan i-discuss sa grupo," he said.
(In our alliance with Governor Bambi Emano, they’re pushing me, but we still need to discuss it with the group.)
Interestingly, Unabia and Moreno share the same vision in 2022, that is to unite Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro.
"Honestly, dapat ang Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro isa ang plano. For the city of Cagayan de Oro to grow, kinahanglan align ang programs and plans sa city and province, then gikinahanglan kaayo sa province ang growth sa city," he said.
(The plans of Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro should be one. For the city of Cagayan de Oro to grow, it's important that the programs and plans for the city and province are aligned. The Province badly needs the growth of Cagayan de Oro City.)
Moreno in an earlier interview, said he wants to end the difficult relationship between the city and the province that "has been going on for decades."
Unabia said his group is still considering who will run for mayor in Cagayan de Oro, but added that his top choices are Pompee La Vina and Emano.