Padayon Pilipino roars
Still Oro’s leading political party with ‘majority win’ in village and SK polls
PADAYON Pilipino may still remain the dominating political party in Cagayan de Oro City after the smoke of battle cleared in the justconcluded village and SK polls in the locality.
Like in past elections, majority of the winning candidates come from Padayon Pilipino founded by former Misamis Oriental governor and Cagayan de Oro City mayor Vicente ‘Dongkoy’ Emano in the early 90s.
“It’s very rewarding,” said PP’s party member President Elipe on the performance of their city bets in the village and youth polls as well as the success of other candidates from allied political party.
Elipe, speaking on behalf of Padayon Pilipino as husband of the regional party’s concurrent president in City Councilor Nadia Emano-Elipe, said Padayon bets had hugely made their presence felt in the May 14 elections.
“Although wala pa ko ’y
exact figure but sa among nahibaw-an and sa feedback we still got the majority and we’ve got some big barangays nga sa una dili amoa,” Elipe told Sun. Star Cagayan de Oro.
Elipe even named names of village leaders or barangays that are either members or allies of Padayon Pilipino.
Included were winning village chief bets Pedro Balite (Kauswagan), Allan Mabalacad (Bonbon), Eddie Abrogar (Bayabas), Al Legaspi Jr. (Bulua), Norbel Saa (Macabalan), Christian Ian Achas (Puerto), Vic Talingting (Bugo), Pedro Arda (Camaman-an), Julito Ogsimer (Lapasan), Edwin Micabani (Balulang) and several ‘numbered’ barangays in the city.
Elipe said other barangays were dominated by their allied party, Centrist Democratic Party of the Philippines (CDP) led by city’s former 2nd district representative Rufus Rodriguez.
The CDP and the Padayon Pilipino, Elipe said, have already forged a coalition and it would be up for the higher ups on how to treat the winning candidates of both parties.
“Ang common candidates nga nagdaog walay problema. Magagad karon sa decision sa higher ups on how to treat people nga nidaog sa grupo ni Rufus ug sa amo considering nga both parties naay alliance,” Elipe said.
While ‘feeling sorry’ for their bets who failed and missed the opportunity to serve their constituents, Elipe said the decision and the choice of the people must be upheld with due respect.
“I don’t see any reason nga dili namo dawaton ang hukom sa katawhan but that’s how it is. It’s the people’s choice kinsa nga leader ilang gusto,” Elipe said.
On the other hand, Elipe said the performance of the party’s bets and their allies in the village and youth polls would probably help the coalition in terms of support whoever will be fielded for the local slate in the next elections.
Elipe raised some confidence that they will get the same trust and support from the people who backed and picked the candidates under their party and allied group in the local polls.
“Sa mga barangay nga napildi mi dili dako ang biya pero sa mga barangay nga nagdaog ta ug atong mga higala commanding ang lead so in a way, we see that people still trust the party,” Elipe said.
“We have always given the barangay captains and our allies the respect and dignity of being part of our family. Dako ang ilang tabang in local or national elections.”
Setting politics aside, Elipe has urged all new set of village officials to start working and carry the responsibility to lead and deliver public service in their respective barangays regardless of political affiliations.