CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/29 July) — Second district Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez has refused to comment on the rivalry between City Mayor Vicente Emano and Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno that has finally come out in the open.
Rumored to be a political ally of Moreno who has announced plans to run for city mayor in 2013, Rodriguez said “it’s too early to talk politics, we’ll talk about it in the 45-day campaign period in 2013.”
Rodriguez issued the statement at the turnover today of infrastructure projects to the city mayor.
Although they were partymates in the Partido ng Masang Pilipino, Emano and Rodriguez parted ways in the 2010 election.
Rodriguez openly supported former first district congressman Rolando Uy, who is now back as barangay captain of Carmen, the city’s biggest barangay.
Moreno who ran under Lakas-Kampi also supported Uy in May 2010.
Emano won over Uy by only 2,030 votes. In previous elections he beat his opponents by 5-digit margins.
Local politics has heated up following Moreno’s announcement he may consider running as city mayor in May 2013, a decision that will put to test his skills as a seasoned politician with those of Emano.
Moreno said his decision stemmed from his refusal to be the “cost of his leadership”, alluding to the alleged moves of his political opponents to block his development agenda.
The governor was alluding to members of the majority in the provincial board who cut this year’s budget of the Office of the Governor by more than P80 million and reportedly continues to block his priority legislative proposals.
The members of the majority belong to Emano’s Padayon Pilipino Party.
But Emano said that Moreno has long been planning to run for city mayor, and told his rival to prepare for 2013.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez announced the approval of other infrastructure projects for Cagayan de Oro, mostly road improvements and upgrading of the seaport in Macabalan. (BenCyrus G. Ellorin/MindaNews)