Treñas helps mediate Espinosa clan conflict
Congressman-elect and outgoing city mayor Jerry Treñas offered himself as mediator in the escalating Espinosa clan war to help diffuse the tension at the Waterfront area after the recent shootout incident that injured two Espinosa brothers.
Treñas was able to talk via cellular phone to one of the victims Pascual “Toto E” Espinosa III, a former chairman of the city government’s Task Force Adams Apple (TFAA).
Treñas said they talked about how to solve the problem without a bloody incident.
Toto E together with his brother Leo was sprayed with bullets while urinating outside their ancestral house in Brgy. Monica, Zamora St., Iloilo City around 2:30 a.m. of Tuesday last week.
Both of them sustained multiple gunshot wounds. They are currently being treated at the Iloilo St. Paul ’s Hospital.
Treñas coordinated with Toto E right after the latter declared ‘all-out-war’ against his cousin Jesus Espinosa Sr. alias ‘”Jing” – the father of Jesus Jr. alias “Jingjing” whom Toto E identified as responsible for shooting them.
Jing Sr. reportedly accepted the challenge of his first cousin putting the clan divided and disarrayed.
Aside from talking with Toto E, Treñas also said he will coordinate with his brother-in-law, incoming vice mayor Jose Espinosa III for the peaceful settlement.
“I am not siding with anyone but I want to help in my own small way to settle the Espinosa issue and diffuse the tension currently permeating at the waterfront areas,” he stressed.
The incoming vice mayor is a first cousin of both the victims and suspect’s father.
Jingjing and an unidentified companion escaped after the shooting incident and are nowhere to be found as of press time.
To note, the Espinosas lorded over the Waterfront arrastre services in the early 60s and 70s bolstered by the political power of the late city congressman Pascual Espinosa I, father of Jing Sr.
The late congressman has five brothers namely Federico, Moros, Franco, Benny and Deting. The first generation Espinosa brothers who are all dead, have sons who took over the lucrative arrastre business at the local pier.