Treñas sandwiched as ‘bilas’ declares running for VM
City Councilor Joe Espinosa III (standing) declares to run as vice mayor of Iloilo City in next year's election at Madge Cafe in La Paz public market. He is joined by his "bilas" Mayor Jerry Treñas and councilorables (from left) Bobby Divinagracia, Edward Yee, and Jose Roni Firmeza.
- EC GARCIAA rather surprising development in the political landscape of Iloilo City happened yesterday morning after City Councilor Jose Espinosa III (Joe III) declared that he will run for city vice mayor in next year’s election.
His vice mayoral bid is being supported by his “bilas” (sister-in-law’s husband) City Mayor Jerry Treñas who showed up at Madge Cafe inside the La Paz public market where the official declaration was made.
Espinosa’s wife Gina is the younger sister of Treñas’s wife Rosalie.
Last Saturday, Treñas was also seen at the launching of candidacy of Bombo Radyo broadcaster Rodel Fullon who will run under the ticket of Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
It is public knowledge that Mabilog’s running mate is City Councilor Julienne Baronda, although the latter has yet to officially declare her vice mayoralty bid.
Interviewed over Z100-FM’s morning public affairs program, Treñas said that he will be supporting Espinosa for vice mayor and his three councilorables, namely, Association of Barangay Captains – Iloilo Chapter president Bobby Divinagracia, Boarding House Commission chair Edward Yee, and Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office (Icupao) chief Jose Roni Firmeza.
Asked on what will happen to his alliance with Mabilog’s group, Treñas said that he will make an official announcement on the matter at his office 11 a.m. today (Nov. 18).
Espinosa’s declaration at Madge Café was attended by his wife, supporters, some barangay captains and political leaders. The theme song of his cable television program “Tatak Ilonggo” sang by veteran broadcaster Ompoy Pastrana was repeatedly played before and after his declaration.
Espinosa said that he opted to make his pronouncement at the popular coffee shop owned by Peter Dela Cruz considering the significance of the place in the political lives of the Ilonggos.
The place becomes a hub for gatherings of political analysts, observers, opinion makers as well as politicians. The place signifies that there is no distinction between the rich and poor, said Espinosa.
He said it took time for him and his wife Gina to decide about his plan to run as vice mayor. The decision to run as vice mayor was in response to the call of the people to continue the development of the city, he said.
Espinosa believes his presence at the legislative body would help in the city’s aim to become a premier city by 2015. Espinosa is serving his second year as incumbent city councilor having reelected in the 2007 election. He has previously served the City Council for three consecutive terms from 1989 to 1998.
In the same occasion, Espinosa introduced three of their group’s candidates for councilors, namely, Divinagracia, Yee and Firmeza.
Last week, the Lakas-Kampi-CMD party of the Gonzalezes has chosen City Councilor Antonio Pesina to be their bet for vice mayor.
Meanwhile, Councilor Lex Tupas, who is supporting the candidacy of Treñas in the congressional post, said he is willing to “sacrifice” his plan to run as vice mayor just to keep the party intact and same time continue the development for the city.
Tupas was once groomed to run as vice mayor under the group of Mabilog.
Tupas, in a radio interview also urged the other politicians to give up their plans to have one united party in this coming election. He added he does not want to grab the opportunity that would not be beneficial to the party and the people whom they are going to serve.
