Friday, July 14, 2006
Opposition argue over unity summit
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
OPPOSITION leaders are still extending an open invitation to lawyer Manolo Tagarda and other opposition leaders who have doubts over their move to unite the local opposition.
Tagarda, however, said their Pundok-Mindanao already have its list of nominated candidates for the 2007 elections, which their members picked during their recently held General Assembly
The core group is set to meet Saturday for the finalization of their expanded list of over 200 opposition leaders and sectoral and non-government organization representatives who will attend their expanded core group meeting this July 29 and formal launching on August 25.
Tagarda told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro they suspect ill motives in the call for unity initiated by lawyers Frederico Gapuz and Butch Bagabuyo.
"The call is even more divisive," he said, adding that the members of their Pundok-Mindanao are now well-oriented and trained to detect "traditional politicians."
But lawyers Manuel Ravanera and Antonio Soriano, opposition political lieutenants who are supportive of the unification call, said they will still welcome Tagarda to their fold.
Soriano who ran as mayor with Tagarda as his vice-mayor said they would still want the former centennial mayor among their ranks and put up a more unified front.
For his part, Bagabuyo said, "I would like to believe that the people of Cagayan de Oro is convinced that unless the opposition is united it will be slaughtered."
He said that while many describe the call to unify the opposition as a "tall order" still "nothing is impossible."
"I still believe that in due time the opposition will unite and those who will not join will become irrelevant, impertinent and immaterial," said Bagabuyo.
"I hope and pray that if there is a group who believe that they have a chance to win, their only choice is to unite with the mainstream leadership opposition based on leadership by example and not on Messianic Complex," he added.
But Tagarda said their Pundok-Mindanao has already held a General Assembly and claimed that it was attended by some 3,000 to 5,000 members.
He said the General Assembly has nominated its tentative list of candidates for the 2007 elections --Tagarda as congressional bet, City Councilor Zaldy Ocon for mayor, and Barangay Lapasan chairman Bong Lao for vice mayor.
"But for me, I have not yet decided on whether I will run for congress," said Tagarda.
As for City Council member candidates, Tagarda named two other broadcast media practitioners, three lawyers, and even a local regional trial court judge.
Ravanera said their Partido Kalikasan and the local opposition are now "wooing and courting" other prominent personalities.
He said these persons are known for their "courage in dispensing functions of the government" and who are "clearly vanguards of the environment."
"We too are wooing and courting the likes of Justice Alfredo Lagamon, Bencyrus Ellorin, Sustines Lolong Magallanes, Elpie Paras and Maximo Simbulan to mention a few to be with us in our crusade," Ravanera said.
(July 14, 2006 issue)
Opposition argue over unity summit
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
OPPOSITION leaders are still extending an open invitation to lawyer Manolo Tagarda and other opposition leaders who have doubts over their move to unite the local opposition.
Tagarda, however, said their Pundok-Mindanao already have its list of nominated candidates for the 2007 elections, which their members picked during their recently held General Assembly
The core group is set to meet Saturday for the finalization of their expanded list of over 200 opposition leaders and sectoral and non-government organization representatives who will attend their expanded core group meeting this July 29 and formal launching on August 25.
Tagarda told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro they suspect ill motives in the call for unity initiated by lawyers Frederico Gapuz and Butch Bagabuyo.
"The call is even more divisive," he said, adding that the members of their Pundok-Mindanao are now well-oriented and trained to detect "traditional politicians."
But lawyers Manuel Ravanera and Antonio Soriano, opposition political lieutenants who are supportive of the unification call, said they will still welcome Tagarda to their fold.
Soriano who ran as mayor with Tagarda as his vice-mayor said they would still want the former centennial mayor among their ranks and put up a more unified front.
For his part, Bagabuyo said, "I would like to believe that the people of Cagayan de Oro is convinced that unless the opposition is united it will be slaughtered."
He said that while many describe the call to unify the opposition as a "tall order" still "nothing is impossible."
"I still believe that in due time the opposition will unite and those who will not join will become irrelevant, impertinent and immaterial," said Bagabuyo.
"I hope and pray that if there is a group who believe that they have a chance to win, their only choice is to unite with the mainstream leadership opposition based on leadership by example and not on Messianic Complex," he added.
But Tagarda said their Pundok-Mindanao has already held a General Assembly and claimed that it was attended by some 3,000 to 5,000 members.
He said the General Assembly has nominated its tentative list of candidates for the 2007 elections --Tagarda as congressional bet, City Councilor Zaldy Ocon for mayor, and Barangay Lapasan chairman Bong Lao for vice mayor.
"But for me, I have not yet decided on whether I will run for congress," said Tagarda.
As for City Council member candidates, Tagarda named two other broadcast media practitioners, three lawyers, and even a local regional trial court judge.
Ravanera said their Partido Kalikasan and the local opposition are now "wooing and courting" other prominent personalities.
He said these persons are known for their "courage in dispensing functions of the government" and who are "clearly vanguards of the environment."
"We too are wooing and courting the likes of Justice Alfredo Lagamon, Bencyrus Ellorin, Sustines Lolong Magallanes, Elpie Paras and Maximo Simbulan to mention a few to be with us in our crusade," Ravanera said.
(July 14, 2006 issue)
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