Independent candidates regroup under Jasper Uy, Manny Villar

January 31, 2010

Atty. CAsiano Gamotin

By Lizanilla J. Amarga

Several Cagayan de Oro candidates who are gunning for local positions in the May 2010 elections without any political party affiliation are now coming together to form one slate and come under the Nacionalista Party.

Atty. Casiano Gamotin, an independent candidate for city councilor in the First District, revealed that there are now moves among independent candidates to unite under city mayoral candidate Jasper Uy.

He said they have come to realize that they would be more aptly geared for the full political onslaught to come their way this May National and Local elections by consolidating their forces under Nacionalista Party’s presidential candidate Manny Villar.

“Uniting the Cagayan de Oro independent candidates together into one slate would strengthen us into one solid force and create a political chain reaction among our divided networks,” he told Gold Star Daily.

Should this plan succeed, Villar would now be properly represented with a full slate here in the city considering that, as of the moment the former senate president, has no local slate to speak of like that of presidential candidate Senator Gordon.

Villar’s Nacionalista Party only has a local slate for the Province of Misamis Oriental which is manned by Emano’s son and incumbent Second District of Misamis Oriental Cong. Yevgeny “Bambi” Emano.

Already, Jasper Uy, who is currently in Manila , separately confirmed yesterday that there are now moves to consolidate the independent candidates’ forces under Villar’s banner.

He said Atty. Gil Banaag is helping them out in forging this alliance among independent candidates before the campaign period for local candidates this March 26, 2010 kicks off.

“I am doing all possible angles to get Villar’s endorsement for my team,” he said in a text message sent to this paper.

Gamotin revealed that he is also planning to negotiate with Candy Darimbang to join with their forces to strengthen her chances in winning for the First District of Cagayan de Oro congressional seat against Lakas-Kampi’s bet Joaquin Uy and PMP-Padayon Pilipino candidate Benjo Benaldo.

This former City Legal Officer and City Fiscal said he would try to ask the aide of City Information Officer and First District independent candidate for city councilor Erwin Culanag to help him in uniting their forces in the First District.

Gamotin said he had already asked former Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Misamis Oriental chapter president Atty. Antonio Zoilo Velez, another independent candidate for city councilor in the Second District, to join them.

“Atty. Velez would then be helping us in the Second District,” he said

He added that he would also be enlisting Mayor Constantino Jaraula’s right-hand man and candidate for Second District city councilor Rogelio “Jigs” Jaraula to help them out in solidifying their force in the Second District.

Gamotin said they would continue checking the list of candidates and negotiating with them in forging this alliance.

“All independent candidates or candidates who do not have any presidential candidate are welcome to join us,” he said.

Written by admin · Filed Under Feature