BY GLENDA TAYONA AND IAN PAUL CORDERO
ILOILO City – The result of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) federation election should be respected, according to Mayor Jose Espinosa III.
But while he declined to comment on the report that Cong. Jerry Treñas meddled in the election, he obliquely criticized the latter.
“I don’t want to divide the youth,” he told the press yesterday,” an apparent dig at Treñas.
Five days before the federation election, Treñas addressed SK barangay chairpersons during a May 24 “dinner meeting” at the lumberyard of Barangay Captain-elect Irene Ong on Solis Street, City Proper, Councilor Plaridel Nava claimed on Tuesday.
It was geared at influencing the SK Iloilo City federation election, said Nava.
Espinosa refused to comment on Nava’s exposé. “I don’t want to divide the youth. I have invited them to work with us at city hall. Kon ano ang resulta, we respect it,” he said yesterday.
The election was held Tuesday, May 29. Elected president was Leila Luntao of Barangay Our Lady of Lourdes, Jaro district. Her name was among those listed in an alleged sample ballot tagged “Uswag Team” distributed during the “dinner meeting.”
“Uswag” was Treñas’ campaign slogan in previous elections.
“I have no politician backer,” said Luntao after her victory.
As SK city federation president, she will sit as ex-officio member in the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
“Tapos na ang election so it’s healing time. Time to work naman,” said Espinosa.
The mayor said he looked forward to working with Luntao and the other elected officials of the SK city federation.
“Hambal ko sa ila you are now part of the government. It’s time will inject the vitality and the enthusiasm of the youth in our governance,” said Espinosa.
Except for one, the rest of the SK federation election winners were in the alleged sample ballot distributed during the May 24 “dinner meeting” with Treñas.
The election was held at Eon Centennial Hotel in Alta Tierra Village, Jaro.
On Tuesday at the regular session of the city councilor, Councilor Nava played a voice recording purportedly of Treñas speaking to barangay SK chairpersons during May 24 “dinner meeting.” He vowed to file administrative charges against the latter.
Treñas, on his part, denied meddling in the SK election. He said he only told the SK chairpersons to choose wisely./PN
