ILOILO City – The president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) in Molo distanced himself from a resolution backing Cong. Jerry Treñas’ possible run for mayor and urging Mayor Jose Espinosa III to run for congressman in next year’s election.
Cirilo Lapascua Jr. said he had no knowledge about the resolution.
“Bag-o ko lang nakita ang manifesto nga gin obra. Maski nabal-an ko pa, I will never allow that, nga gina pulitika nila ang ABC Molo,” said Lapascua.
He knew Molo barangay captains held a meeting, he said, but he had no idea what was discussed.
“They used the letterhead of ABC Molo without my knowledge. I did not authorize anyone to do so,” said Lapascua.
Such action, according to Lapascua, cast him in a bad light.
“Kay abi sang iban gapamulitika ako, which is not true,” he stressed. “Indi ako partisan.”
ABC Molo is not a political organization, said Lapascua.
He, however, was leaving it to the discretion of each barangay captain of Molo who to support in the election next year in their individual capacities.
“ABC Molo has not made an endorsement,” Lapascua stressed.
He revealed Espinosa had a consultative meeting with the barangay captains of Molo the other day but there was no discussion about politics.
What Espinosa discussed, he said, was city government programs, including a salary increase and other benefits of barangay health workers.
Asked who could have influenced the barangay captains to come up with the manifestation, Lapascua replied, “I’m not at liberty to cite a person pero may ara man ko dira nabal-an nga nagmaniobran seguro.”
Lapascua urged barangay captains to refrain from politicizing ABC Molo.
“As president, I will never allow that. Kon ila barangay, pagusto sila. Indi nila pagdalahigon ang asosasyon kay malaw-ay,” he stressed.
Of the 25 barangay captains in Molo, 18 signed in the resolution.
Lapascua said there was no need to antagonize either Espinosa or Treñas because both were friends of barangay captains.
“Let us cooperate with both of them,” he said, “especially kay Mayor primarily kay ang barangay captains, ang direct supervision ang mayor.”
Now in his third and final consecutive term as congressman, Treñas is barred by law from seeking a fourth term.
According to the resolution, Espinosa should swap posts with Treñas, his brother-in-law, and maintain their political unity.
“If both remain united, no political entity can defeat (them) for sure,” stated the barangay captains in the resolution passed on April 3 during their regular meeting.
Addressing the reported conflict between the congressman and the mayor, the resolution warned they may be forced to choose one over the other.
“If our leaders are divided rest assured that we cannot serve two masters at the same time,” part of the resolution read.
In all the elections they joined, both Espinosa and Treñas belonged to the same ticket and supported one another.
In December 2016 when he was still vice mayor, Espinosa was endorsed by Treñas for mayor.
In February this year, however, Treñas said he may run for mayor.
Espinosa refused to squarely address the issue and simply said he and Treñas remained on good terms./PN
