Staying neutral

Mayor Moreno hopes the rift between councilor Ocon and Canoy family will reach reconciliation

CAGAYAN de Oro City mayor Oscar Moreno said he is not taking any sides on the Canoy-Ocon dispute and hopes that the tandem will eventually reach reconciliation.

On Wednesday evening, councilor Zaldy Ocon was nowhere around the oath taking ceremony and even during the Independence Day rites, the councilor was also absent.

"I don't know (where he is), but probably he's taking a low-profile for the meantime, of course he is hurting and I know that it's a difficult position that he is in, ang ato lang tagaan ug panahon to reflect on what happened," Moreno said.

Moreno said he also respects that move of a group to gather signatures in an aim to oust Ocon as city councilor.

"We are a democracy

and everyone is free to express his or her views and I do not question that, that’s a prerogative of the people, we respect that, but there’s a process for that, now ang ako lang, is nakasabot ako that emotions are still very high with what happened last weekend so ako lang let’s just hope that cooler heads will prevail, hope they will reconcile,” he said.

“Like I said the Canoy-Ocon combination should not be broken,” he added.

Moreno also disclosed that former mayor Reuben Canoy’s daughter Rhona visited him in his office to talk what happened at the VIP hotel.

He said he told Rhona that he will remain neutral.

“I’ve listened to both versions, si Rhona was in my office the other day, I talked to her and I gave her my position that I’m not taking sides, and I realize that emotions are quite high, and I hope that emotions will die down and good relations will be restored as soon as possible,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rhona also met with Duterte right after the oath taking ceremony on Wednesday.

Rhona said Duterte already knew of the viral video since last week, showing Ocon berating his father.

“Nag-apologize sya nga tungod ani nga kaso, kay nag-ingon man gud si Zaldy during their confrontation nga: ‘tungod kay tawo ka sa presidente abi nimo nahadlok ninyo, wala ko nahadlok ninyo ipapatay ko ninyo’, among other things nga mas ngil-ad pa,” she said.

Rhona however said it was not only the purpose why he met Duterte.

“Nagpahatod ug kumusta akong papa, there were some other things nga among tuyo, personal na so I’d like to keep it private,” she added.