ILOILO City – “Dako-dako nga bulig.” A big help.
This was how Councilor R Leone Gerochi who is running for vice mayor in the upcoming midterm elections described the endorsement of former city first lady Maria Victoria Mabilog.
“I should perform up to the standard nga expected niya. Ang endorsement dako-dako nga bulig para sa akon,” stressed the three-term councilor.
Gerochi is the running mate of Mayor Jose Espinosa III. Both belong to the Nacionalista Party.
The wife of former mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog announced his preference for Gerochi via a Facebook post. The couple are believed to be in Canada. They left Iloilo last August 2017 citing perceived threats from President Rodrigo Duterte who tagged the former mayor as a drug protector.
According to Mrs. Mabilog, Gerochi had “the intellectual acuity, the moral strength, integrity, honesty, determination, fortitude, independence, love for his city, professionalism, and dedication to his vocation that none of his opponents have, or at best, have very little.”
“Dako-dako nga expectations ginbutang sa akon abaga. I take it also as a responsibility not to violate the trust reposed upon me by Ma’am Marivic,” said Gerochi.
Gerochi’s rival for vice mayor are Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon (Timawa Party), Councilor Plaridel Nava (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino) and Constancio Caro Jr. (Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan).
“I dream that one day, in the future, the likes of (Gerochi) will take up bigger leadership roles in the city,” the former city first lady said.
Gerochi said the endorsement was both a blessing and an obligation.
Meanwhile, Ganzon is the running mate of mayoral candidate Cong. Jerry Treñas while Nava is the running mate of Dr. Pacita Gonzalez, wife of the late Justice secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr./PN
