Rodriguez, Moreno, Emano to slug it out for CDO mayor

(Last of a series)

DAVAO CITY—As soon as the 2013 elections ended, Cagayan de Oro City voters began talking about a possible rematch between newly elected Mayor Oscar Moreno of the Liberal Party (LP) and the man he had defeated, former Mayor Vicente Emano of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

The speculation grew stronger over the past two years, with Emano allegedly derailing Moreno’s programs through the city council, which is dominated by his allies.

Last month, Emano made it clear that he would run again for the mayoralty in next year’s elections.

But the political equation suddenly changed when Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of the Centrist Democratic Party (CDP) announced that he, too, would run for mayor.

Rodriguez’s announcement came as a surprise, especially for Moreno, who said he did not see it coming.

Different tune

Moreno and Rodriguez worked together for the defeat of Emano in the 2013 elections and they had since been allies.

Until June, Rodriguez was firm that he was not running, saying Moreno was an ally and that he was satisfied with the mayor’s performance.

But now Rodriguez is singing a different tune. He says he is giving the voters of Cagayan de Oro City a better choice.

In Iligan City, the race for City Hall is likely to be between Rep. Vicente Belmonte of the LP, who survived an ambush in January, and fugitive Mayor Celso Regencia of the National Unity Party (NUP), the alleged brains behind the attempt on Belmonte’s life.

Three is a crowd

In the race for the House of Representatives, at least three LP members—acting Iligan City Mayor Ruderic Marzo, third-term City Councilor Frederic Siao and former Mayor Lawrence Lluch Cruz—have declared they are running for the city’s lone seat in the House.

In addition to that crowd, former Mayor Franklin Quijano of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) has also signified his interest in joining the congressional race.

Jailhouse run

In Davao del Sur province, former Gov. Douglas Cagas of the Nacionalista Party (NP), who lost the 2013 mayoral race in Digos City, has vowed to run for the Capitol again.

Cagas has been in jail since October last year for the 2010 murder of journalist Nestor Bedolido.

He said he would run his campaign from jail.

His likely opponent is Gov. Claude Bautista, who may run for reelection, although the provincial alliance of the LP and the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) is pushing former Vice Gov. Arsenio Latasa to fight the incumbent.

In Digos City, Mayor Joseph Peñas of the LP will face Gary Cagas of the NP, the former governor’s elder brother.

Peñas is running for a third and final term.

Running for revenge

In Tagum City, former Mayor Rey Uy will run against reelectionist Mayor Allan Rellon for what is seen as revenge for his son’s defeat in 2013.

Uy did not run in 2013 after completing his third term. But he fielded his son, De Carlo “Oyo” Uy, in the mayoral race. Oyo lost to Rellon.

In the Compostela Valley gubernatorial election, the sons of two LP members will be facing each other.

Board Member Jayvee Tyron Uy, son of incumbent Gov. Arturo Uy, will run against Rep. Rommel Amatong, son of former Davao del Norte Gov. Prospero Amatong.

Vice Gov. Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora, also of the LP, will  face Francisco Tito, a former village chief of gold-rich Mt. Diwalwal in Monkayo town.

Allies turned rivals

In Dinagat, former-allies-turned-rivals Jade Ecleo and Rep. Arlene Bag-ao will contest the race for the lone congressional seat of the province.

The two were allies in 2013, with Ecleo campaigning against her own family and almost defeating her mother, incumbent Gov. Glenda Ecleo, in the gubernatorial race.

Bag-ao defeated Jade’s sister Gwendolyn, a former municipal mayor.

Jade reconciled with her family after the 2013 elections. Months later, she declared she would challenge Bag-ao in 2016.

“As I was the one who brought her here, it’s only fair that I’d be the one to boot her out,” she said in a post on Facebook.

In Surigao del Norte province, the Matugases and the Romarates, also former allies, are duking it out in the local races.

Rep. Guillermo Romarate Jr., who is closing his third and last term in the House, is challenging Gov. Sol Matugas for control of the Capitol.

Romarate’s wife, Board Member Myrna Romarate, will challenge Matugas’ brother-in-law, Surigao City Mayor Ernesto Matugas, in the mayoral race in the capital. With reports from Danilo V. Adorador III, Inquirer Mindanao