By LYNDE SALGADOS, Correspondent
LITTLE did anyone know that the 3-cornered fight for Misamis Oriental province's gubernatorial seat will be contested by leading politicians in the locality who never tasted a defeat yet.
And their rivalry for the May 2022 elections is so intense that some of their partymates in Misor towns have already started feeling the heat, they even feared it could escalate to something "not good" for the interest of the voting populace.
In Tagoloan alone, which is one of the vote-rich and most industrialized municipalities of the province there is already a mounting clamor against political harassment and threats of violence, as well as in the neighboring town of Villanueva.
"We already received a series of death threats, not to mention surprising raid in my house, grenade planting and another threat of grenade throwing at the house of the Tagoloan mayor in barangay Natumolan. All of these had already been put into police blotter for record purposes as we don't know what lies ahead," said Francis Jerson Sabio, chieftain of barangay Mohon and nephew of Tagoloan mayor Gomer 'Enan' Sabio.
Saying he feared his own life too, Sabio told Gold Star Mindanao that the coming elections will be messy and complicated as it's like a blockbuster fight among the heavy favorites, noting that all three gubernatorial bets--Misor 2nd district Congresswoman Juliette Uy, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno and Gingoog City Vice Mayor Peter Unabia--are well-equipped financially and undisputed in their respective political careers.
"Its gonna be a clash of the titans coz all of them are undefeated since they entered politics," said Jerson, who will be the running mate as vice mayor of reelectionist Tagoloan Mayor Sabio under the National Unity Party (NUP) of Congresswoman Uy.
After becoming as three-termer mayor of Villanueva town, the wife of Julio Uy--who himself is seeking a congressional post in 2022 elections--serves for three terms in the 2nd Congressional district of Misamis Oriental until now.
Incumbent Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Moreno, 71, was also former three-termer as Congressman and then Governor of the province and now on his third year as the city's top executive.
Known for his lechon manok business around the country, the 60-year-old Unabia started as Provincial Board Member before his three-term duty as 1st district congressman of Misamis Oriental prior to taking the vice mayoral seat of Gingoog at present.
Broadcast block timer Nilo Abrogueña, who is a staunch supporter of the Uys in Villanueva, said he's quite apprehensive after somebody texted him that a certain group would pick him up at his house, sooner or later.
"Sakaon daw sa balay. Mao ra ni saligan sa mga hari-harion ang pagpanghulga. They're just relying on gold, guns, goons during election period," ranted Abrogueña on his Facebook wall.
Nicole Managbanag, a former information officer of incumbent Misor governor Yevgeny 'Bambi' Emano who's now working with Unabia, however, said that everything is still normal in Gingoog--the biggest voting area being the component city of Misamis Oriental.
"It's quite normal over here in Gingoog, though expect a festive-like atmosphere for the governor's race as all three candidates have their own effective strategies," Managbanag said.
Former Northern Mindanao Region (NMR-1) Eagles governor-turned Gingoog city councilor Conrado 'Anjun' Gomez said political-related violence has yet been observed by Unabia's Padayon Pilipino party that he now embraced.
"It's peaceful here in Gingoog," Gomez said.
The Sabios in Tagoloan are now up against the original powerhouse in the bailiwick of the late political kingpin Vicente "Dongkoy" Emano whose daughter Nadya Emano is seeking to challenge mayor Sabio.
Nadya's 46-year-old brother Bambi Emano will fight Julio Uy in a bid to reclaim his old congressional throne.
Infighting within family circle spiced up political rivalry in Tagoloan as the Sabios have political allies from the Emanos as well as opponent from their own clan.
Jerson Sabio was a bitter rival of his other uncle Robinson Sabio from the Emano camp since the previous municipal plebiscites in Tagoloan where the old man Robinson nailed a Council post.
As the present mayor's closest buddy, Jerson cried foul when their residence in Mohon was raided by the provincial police force on September 10 for alleged possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.
The following day, Jerson claimed a grenade placed inside an eco bag was found at the vicinity of their house, which he said can be falsely used as "planted evidence" if not discovered on time by a househelper.
Mayor Gomer Sabio, on the other hand, reported to Tagoloan Police Station about a concerned citizen's tip that somebody would lob a grenade at his house in barangay Natumolan.
"We're quite relieved after the COC filings because we also received a threat that our days will be over before the Comelec's COC deadline for the May 22 elections," Jerson further said.
The Sabios of Tagoloan and the now Villanueva-based Abrogueña could not ascertain however as to where the threats of harm against them came from, as of presstime.
