By Lynde Salgados
and Shiela Mae Butlig
INCUMBENT Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy hit back at rival Oscar Moreno, saying perhaps it was the former mayor who ‘mismanaged’ the city, not him.
“Sa iya tingali ang mismanage. Dili makadawat ang syudad ug SGLG kung na mismanage pa (Maybe it was him who mismanaged the city. The city wouldn’t have been given an SGLG (Seal of Good Local Governance) if it had been mismanaged),” Uy said.
Uy said it was during his term that the city was awarded the SGLG, which he claimed the city failed to receive under Moreno’s leadership.
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The SGLG is a performance-based award given by the national government to local government units. Its core areas include financial administration, disaster preparedness, and social protection, among others.
Its precursor, the Seal of Good Housekeeping, was first introduced in 2011 and later evolved into the SGLG in 2014.
Moreno had repeatedly criticized Uy for the incumbent mayor’s handling of various issues such as the city’s water supply, traffic, and garbage disposal.
Uy said that as city mayor, he also upgraded the bed capacity of the J.R. Borja General Hospital and increased the number of the city’s scholars to 15,000 scholars from 7,000.
City Councilor Edgar Cabanlas, an Uy ally, meanwhile, indirectly defended the incumbent mayor.
Cabanlas said he was surprised that the Padayon Pilipino, founded by the late Vicente ‘Dongkoy’ Emano, agreed to take in Moreno as its standard bearer.
“The decision of Padayon Pilipino to align with him (Oscar Moreno) was a big surprise, though I’m fully convinced that it will definitely tarnish the legacy of Dongkoy Emano,” Cabanlas told Gold Star Daily.
Moreno was a bitter rival of the late Emano whom the former unseated as city mayor in 2013.
Moreno is the National Unity Party (NUP) candidate for mayor. The NUP and the Padayon Pilipino have allied for next year’s polls, fielding common candidates for mayor, vice mayor, and for councilors of the city’s first district.
The 73-year-old Cabanlas, once a confidant of Dongkoy Emano and erstwhile Moreno ally, said Padayon Pilipino stalwarts should not trust Moreno.
“Because Moreno himself has no faith (in) Dongkoy’s legacy kay sige niya birahan sa una (because Moreno constantly criticized Dongkoy). Wala man kana siya nagtuo nga adunay legasiya nga gibilin si Dongkoy (Moreno does not believe Dongkoy has a legacy),” said Cabanlas.
Second District Representative Rufus Rodriguez, now an Uy ally, refused to comment on Moreno’s bombshell aimed at Uy.
“Kini nga kampanya, high-level kini (This campaign is going to take the high road). We are going to present our platforms. Walay pangataki (There will be no attacks),” said Rodriguez.
He added that the people deserve to know more about their platforms and programs rather than verbal tussles.
