ILOILO City – In what was considered a first in this city, Mayor Jose Espinosa III held office at the Liga ng mga Barangay – Jaro chapter office at Jaro Plaza on Tuesday.
He wanted to bring the services of city hall and his office closer to the people, according to Espinosa who, though eligible to run for mayor next year, is being pressed by Jaro barangay captains to instead give way to his brother-in-law Cong. Jerry Treñas.
In a three-page manifesto, the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) of Jaro expressed support to Treñas as candidate for mayor and for Espinosa as candidate for congressman.
This political arrangement would “maintain the unity among our people and public servants,” according to 37 barangay captains who signed the manifesto.
Leading the signatories was the president of the Liga ng mga Barangay – Jaro, Leo Lindero, the barangay captain of Our Lady of Lourdes village.
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 it was too early to talk about politics and he would rather focus on his work for now.
On Tuesday morning Espinosa surprised everyone by proceeding to Jaro Plaza right after the flag-raising ceremony at Plaza Libertad.
“People must see that the city government is functioning and their mayor is working,” said Espinosa who became mayor only in October last year after the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed from government service then mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog for unexplained wealth.
Jaro barangay captains, however, appeared not impressed. That afternoon, the Liga ng mga Barangay – Jaro chapter released the manifesto expressing preference for Treñas as mayor.
Still, the barangay captains made it clear they were supportive of both Espinosa and Treñas and acknowledged their “commitment for a better and brighter Iloilo City.”
“We believe in unity there is strength, and if both of them remain united, no political entity can defeat us for sure,” they added.
At the Jaro Liga office, Espinosa received visitors. He reviewed and signed documents, and officiated a civil wedding.
He also had a meeting with barangay health workers, barangay service point officers and barangay nutrition scholars.
He announced a P500 increase in the monthly P2,000 honorarium of barangay health workers and barangay service point officers.
Espinosa said he would regularly hold office at the Liga ng mga Barangay – Jaro chapter office every Tuesday.
On other days, he said he planned to hold office in the districts of Molo, Mandurriao and Arevalo.
The Liga ng mga Barangay – Jaro chapter came out with the manifesto after its counterpart in Molo district released a similar resolution last week.
The president of the Association of Barangay Captains in Molo, however, distanced himself from the resolution. According to Cirilo Lapascua Jr., he had no knowledge about it.
“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 was 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.
Of the 25 barangay captains in Molo, 18 signed in the resolution.
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./PN
