ILOILO City – The chairmanships of two Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) committees previously held by Mayor Jose Espinosa III’s ally Councilor R Leone Gerochi went to two allies of Cong. Jerry Treñas.
SP ex-officio member Leila Luntao (Sangguniang Kabataan city federation president) was designated the chairperson of the committee on environmental protection and ecology yesterday.
On the other hand, SP ex-officio member Irene Ong (president of the Liga ng mga Barangay city federation), was made the chairperson of the committee on good government and public accountability.
Espinosa and Treñas are running against each other for mayor in the May 13, 2019 midterm elections. Gerochi is Espinosa’s running mate.
On Oct. 9, citing “loss of control and confidence” majority of the SP members stripped Gerochi and Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo of their committee chairmanships.
Like Gerochi (also then the assistant floor leader), Peñaredondo, then the majority floor leader, was also a key ally of Espinosa.
“We, the undersigned of the SP comprising the majority, have lost our control and confidence to the leadership of the incumbent sitting and current majority floor leader and assistant, and likewise their ability to lead and chair their respective significant and vital committees,” part of the SP resolution read.
Of the eight councilors who voted oust Peñaredondo and Gerochi, six were allies of Treñas who is running for mayor against Espinosa.
The six Treñas SP allies were councilors Jose Efrain Treñas, Lady Julie Grace Baronda, Ely Estante, Armand Parcon, Ong, and Luntao.
Two other city councilors, though not allies of Treñas, joined the six in the Oct. 9 move – Plaridel Nava and Joshua Alim.
Aside from having been booted out as majority floor leader, Peñaredondo also lost the chairmanships of the following committees: rules, energy and public utilities; appropriations; urban planning, housing, and land development, zoning, expropriation, assessment and land acquisitions.
Gerochi was also removed a chairperson of the committee on transportation, energy and public utilities.
Nava was elected as new majority floor leader. He was also voted to chair the committees on appropriations; rules, energy and public utilities; and transportation, energy and public utilities.
Baronda was elected the new assistant floor leader while Treñas was made the chairman of the committee on urban planning, housing, and land development, zoning, expropriation, and assessment./PN
