Oca credits 'Kaabag' campaign for winning

MAYOR Oscar Moreno credited the almost 20-0 win of his administration party to the "Kaabag vs. Babag" messaging of his campaign, which he said affected the people.

The administration party, led by Moreno won big, with only 3 candidates-2 councilors from each district and 1 congressional candidate-- lost.

All of the winners were proclaimed 8pm at the session hall Wednesday night, after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) approved their motion to lower the threshold of the accounted votes so far.

Moreno received 157,815 votes, while Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin Uy and his father, Rep. Rolando Uy of the 1st District, were also proclaimed winners.

For the 1st district councilors, proclaimed as winners were Edna Dahino, Jay Pascual, Roger Abaday, Zaldy Ocon, George Goking, Reuben Daba, and Romeo Calizo. For the 2nd District, Girlie Balaba, Maria Lourdes Gaane, Ian Mark Nacaya, Suzette Daba, Teodulfo Lao Jr., Enrico Salcedo, and Edgar Cabanlas emerged as winners.

Calizo and Nacaya meanwhile, were absent during the proclamation.

In an interview, Moreno said he will continue his gains during his first 2 terms but vowed to focus on 3 areas: resettlement, infrastructure for flood control and drainage, and boost the Cagayan de Oro City Water District (COWD).

"I'm very pleased, the issues have been well explained. The fight was between kaabag (one who helps) and babag (one who hinders), and I'm glad that the people saw that as the central issue of this election," he said.

"We would have wished for everyone to have make it, especially Congress, but we have to submit to the collective wish of the people, regardless of our feelings toward the results," he added.