Opposition disintegrates as administration party bares slate
The so-called Genuine Opposition in Iloilo City is deemed collapsed as some of the party members came up with a new set of candidates for the May polls dislodging former City Councilor Vicente Gengos, who was earlier anointed by Senator Franklin Drilon as the group's bet for congressman.
The group is now led by former Mayor Mansueto Malabor who will run for congressman instead of mayor and former Councilor Joshua Alim who would be the group's mayoralty candidate.
Former City Councilor Erlinda Liberiaga, who recently declared to run for congresswoman, reportedly joined Malabor's slate is going to be their candidate for vice mayor.
In a radio interview, Liberiaga said she accepts the offer for her to become the vice mayoralty candidate of Malabor's group.
Liberiaga said, she believes that Malabor could give incumbent Cong. Raul Gonzalez Jr. a good fight.
Those who will compose the opposition slate for councilor, according to an insider, are: incumbent Councilor Perla Zulueta, former Vice Mayor Victor Facultad, former Councilor Rolando Dabao, Atty. Dan Cartagena, Nards Villanueva, Joseph Nava, Johnny Young, retire Senior Supt. Felix Muchada, Lex Tupas, Atty. Bert Liberiaga, Boyet Rentoy and Florencio Yap.
Gengos, on the other hand, insists that he will pursue his plan to run for congressman. It was not yet known if Gengos will also put up his own slate.
Meanwhile, the administration party is already done with their slate with Gonzalez Jr, as their candidate for congressman, Treñas for mayor and Jed Mabilog for vice mayor. They have seven incumbent councilors in their line-up, Eduardo Peñaredondo, Jose Espinosa III, Juliene Baronda, Ely Estante, Erwin Plagata, Jeffrey Ganzon and Armand Parcon.
Councilor Merci Garcia would no longer run for reelection as she reportedly accepted a job offer in the United States America.
The other five administration councilorables are Atty. Eldrid Antiquera, former councilor Antonio Pesina, businessman Edward Yee and Punong Barangays Roberto "Bobby" Divinagracia and Lyndon Acap.