BALINGASAG, Misamis Oriental ― Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno kicked off his gubernatorial campaign for Misamis Oriental with Vice Presidential aspirant Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan in his hometown yesterday.
Moreno was joined by his running mate, former peace consultant Ariel ‘Ayi’ Hernandez, and his entire slate of candidates for the Misamis Oriental Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
His political ally, Senator Pangilinan, raised the hands of Moreno and his fellow candidates signaling the start of the 45-day poll campaign period.
Moreno is gunning for his old gubernatorial post, which he held for nine years until his elections in Cagayan de Oro in 2013.
“I am a resident of Balingasag who just went to Cagayan de Oro and got elected as mayor. Now I am coming back,” Moreno told his supporters at the rally in the town plaza.
His daughter, Aimee, who is running as a city councilor in the first district of Cagayan de Oro, introduced her father, Moreno.
Moreno is facing a three-cornered fight with Rep. Juliet Uy (2nd district, Misamis Oriental) and Gingoog City Vice Mayor Pedro Unabia.
Uy held her first rally in her hometown in Villanueva creating a monstrous traffic jam along the highway yesterday afternoon.
Uy belongs to a political dynasty that has become well entrenched in western Misamis Oriental. Her husband, Julio, a former mayor of Villanueva, is running to replace her in the 2nd district.
Their daughter is Villanueva Mayor Jennie Uy-Mendez, who is seeking reelection.
There was no word whether Unabia held a rally in his hometown in Gingoog City.
His son, Christian, is seeking reelection as Misamis Oriental 1st district congressman while his other son, Aaron, is running for reelection as mayor of Balingian town.
