Emano, CDO bets scoff at Jasper Uy’s disqualification case

January 31, 2010

By Lizanilla J. Amarga

Local political kingpin Cagayan de Oro city vice-mayor Vicente “Dongkoy” Emano and several local independent candidates dismissed the disqualification charges filed against independent mayoral candidate Jasper Uy by Lakas-Kampi Cagayan de Oro standard bearer First District Cong. Rolando “Klarex” Uy.

Their statements came even as the Commission on Elections in Manila (Comelec-Manila) has scheduled today, Jan. 8, as the date for the first hearing of the case to declare Jasper Uy as a nuisance candidate and therefore disqualify him from the city mayoral race pursuant to Section 69 of the Omnibus Election Code, as amended.

Cong. Rolando Uy filed the case against Jasper Uy accusing the latter of “putting the election process in mockery or disrepute” and that Jasper Uy’s candidacy causes confusion among voters by the similarity of their surnames.

Also, the congressman accused Jasper Uy of “having no bona fide intention to run for the office for which the certificate of candidacy has been filed and thus, prevent the faithful determination of the true will of the electorate.”

But Emano, the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino-PaDayon Pilipino (PMP-PaDayon Pilipino) standard bearer, said Jasper Uy is a bonafide local media practitioner who have been in the media industry for several years.

He pointed out that Jasper is not just a member but a director of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) that was founded together by former Cagayan de Oro city mayors Reuben Canoy and Sen. Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel, Jr.

“Walay igong rason nga dili tagaan ug higayon si Jasper Uy nga makadagan ug pagka-mayor kay he is very qualified for the position (There is not enough reason to bar Jasper Uy from being given the opportunity to run for mayor as he is very qualified for the position),” he said over radio interviews.

Cong. Uy and his supporters have earlier accused Emano of shelling out huge funds from his PMP-PaDayon war chest just to entice Jasper Uy to run for the mayoral post in the city.

For Cong. Uy’s camp, Emano would benefit from the confusion brought about with two mayoral candidates carrying the surname, “Uy.”

But Emano’s former PaDayon Pilipino lieutenant Atty. Casiano Gamotin, Jr. voiced strong convictions that Jasper Uy’s disqualification case would amount to nothing.

“I am against the disqualification case of Jasper because, for me, he is not a nuisance candidate. Jasper Uy served and continues to serve as a member of our local media industry and he is also a top official of a prestigious Cagayan de oro Press Club,” said Gamotin who formerly served as Cagayan de Oro City Prosecutor and City Hall’s Legal Office.

“He (Jasper Uy) is very qualified to become city’s next mayor,and we are eager to adopt him in our coalition of independent candidates,” he added.

Gamotin is running for a seat in the Cagayan de Oro City Council and is moving to consolidate interested independent candidates such as Jasper Uy and independent candidate for vice-mayor Atty. Alvin Calingin to form a slate under Nacionalista Party presidential candidate Sen. Manny Villar. (with reports from Ercel Maandig)

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