Emano’s return, seven months after his electoral defeat to Oscar Moreno, was courtesy of Monday’s approval of a city council ordinance, which named him consultant.
Also back are Emano’s former city treasurer, Griscelda Joson, who will serve as consultant on local budget and finance; lawyer Andrew Barba, as legal consultant; and Michael Salvador, consultant to the vice mayor.
Emano was mayor for 12 years and vice mayor for three years. During his tenure as vice mayor, Emano presided the city council only once. He may have lost in his reelection bid as mayor, but the city council has eight members who ran and won under Emano’s Padayon Pilipino Party.
When news broke out about Emano being named city council consultant, many posted their reactions on social media.
Tito Mora, a civic leader and businessman here, said on Facebook that “Padayon Pilipino lives only for one purpose, and that is to perpetuate Emano in office.”
“All sense of honor, dignity and self-respect gone, with his own daughter and son-in-law doing a Pilate, abstaining, as if washing their blood-stained hands,” Mora said.
Emano’s daughter, Councilor Nadya Elipe, and her husband Councilor President Elipe abstained from voting.
“It is sickening that up to this time, this vice mayor and his councilors have the gall to fool and insult the people in such a manner,” Mora added.
Councilor Lourdes Darimbang said while vice mayor, Emano only presided the city council once and was absent in the next three years.
“Emano is not and never was an effective legislator,” Darimbang said.
Even before naming Emano consultant, it was already clear that the city council was not on Moreno’s side.
Earlier, the city council approved a P2.3-billion annual budget, some P300 million short of what Mayor Moreno had proposed.
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