CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Throngs of supporters carrying tarps, placards and wearing their party’s signature colors alternately turned the streets into masses of yellow then into purple as Liberal Party (LP) and Padayon Pilipino candidates filed their Certificates of Candidacies (COCs) on Friday at the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Traffic from the St. Augustine’s Cathedral stood still as LP candidates, led by re-electionist City Mayor Oscar Moreno, walked from the Cathedral to the Comelec to file their COCs following an 8 a.m. mass.
Only the candidates for city councilors and lawyer Edgar Cabanlas, who is running for 2nd district representative, filed their COCs on Friday since Moreno, Representative Rolando 'Klarex' Uy, and Barangay Carmen councilman Rainier Joaquin 'Kikang' Uy already filed their COCs by proxy on Tuesday.
The final LP slate for the City’s 1st District are Dondon Allorin, retired General Romeo Calizo, Alfredo Carcosa, Boboy Roa Daba, George Goking, Marlyn Lagumen, incumbent City Councilor Zaldy Ocon, and Jay Roa Pascual.
Nixon Baban, Norris Babiera, Jojo Bacal, physician Malou Gaane, Siling Pacana, Ermin Pimentel, lawyer Dale Mordeno, and Engineer Roger Villazorda are the LP’s candidates for city councillor for the 2nd district.
Some 5,000 purple-clad supporters of Papadyon Pilipino, on the other hand, marched with their candidates from the Our Lady of Fatima Chapel in Velez Street to the Comelec as the candidates, led by former city mayor Vicente ‘Dongkoy’ Emano, filed their COCs Friday afternoon around 2:30 p.m.
“Ingon nako nga I will be in the forefront in the election period starting in the filing of COC,” Emano said.
Padayon Pilipino spokesperson Alexander Dacer said that unlike Moreno, who had filed ahead of his colleagues, the come-backing Emano had made it a point to file together with the rest of the party’s candidates.
“Kami sa Padayon dungan gyud kami ga-file pagpakita sa among panaghiusa,” Dacer said.
Dacer said the party’s line-up is a mix of veteran politicians and neophytes, a factor that may yet prove an advantage.
The Padayon Pilipino candidates for the City Council for the 1st District include Annie Daba, Simeon Licayan, Alvin Calingin, Jose Pepe Abbu, with incumbent Inday Dahino, broadcaster Ronie Waniwan, Kauswagan Barangay Chairman Pedro Balite and neophyte Atty. Lordan Suan.
Second District candidates are incumbent City Councilors Nadia Emano-Elipe, Atty. Leon Gan, Dometilo Acenas Jr; Barangay 33 chairman Conrad Lim, Ian Mark Nacaya, former Camaman-an Barangay chairman Joebert Agcopra, former Misamis Oriental board member Atty. Oscar Musni and neophyte Suzette Magtajas-Daba.
Magtajas-Daba is a daughter of former city mayor Pablo Magtajas.
City Councilor Ramon Tabor is Padayon’s Congressional candidate for the 2nd District.
A source at the party said Padayon Pilipino is not fielding a candidate for 1st District Representative but said the party may yet name its candidate at the start of the campaign season.
Bulua village chief Al Legaspi and Puntod barangay chief Marvin Beja are the reserved candidates of Padayon for 1st and 2nd district, respectively.
Meanwhile, a fish vendor from Barangay Macabalan also filed his COC for city mayor Friday.
Romer Cabindo, 40, said he is running to push for vendors rights and to provide shelter to the homeless.
"Akong gipangandoy na mahipos ang mga makililimos ug hatagan sila sa saktong programa,apil na pud ang mga vendors na anaa lang nagbaligya sa kilid na maoy rason sa nagka-grabe na traffic sa atong dakbayan," Cabindo said.
Cabindo said he is unfazed even though he is facing veteran politicians in all three political parties.
"Gusto nako ug hinanaling pagbag-o para sa dakbayan sa Cagayan de Oro," Cabindo said.
"Ang Ginoo nay masayod kung makadoag ba ko sa umaabot na eleksyon basta mao na to akong mga kampanya alang sa kaayohan sa syudad," Cabindo added.