WHOM the barangay leaders of Molo district wish to install as mayor or congressman of Iloilo City – assuming it is within their power – they first endorse conditionally. They would support Mayor Jose Espinosa III, but only if he runs for congressman in May 2019.
That summarizes the message embedded in the April 3, 2018 manifesto of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) of Molo, Iloilo City. It means that they would like two politicians to preserve their political alliance, which is only possible if Espinosa runs for congressman; “graduating” congressman Jerry Treñas, for mayor.
ABC-Molo president Cirilo Lapascua Jr. denied having participated in preparing the manifesto signed on ABC letterhead by 18 out of 25 barangay captains. Imputing “disrespect” on the part of his colleagues for bypassing him, he hollered on the air, “The ABC is non-partisan. We are not kingmakers. Our only mandate it to serve our barangay constituents.”
Indeed, Sec. 4 of Batas Pambansa Bilang 222 provides, “The barangay election shall be non-partisan and shall be conducted in an expeditious and inexpensive manner.”
Incidentally, the next barangay election is scheduled on May 14, 2018.
The manifesto signatories must have remembered that in April 2016, ex-officio councilor Reyland Hervias, as chairman of Liga ng Barangay (LNB)-Iloilo City, came out with a statement echoing election lawyer Romulo Macalintal: “There is no law prohibiting barangay officials from engaging in an election campaign.”
In the real sense of the word, the elected barangay officials are not apolitical because the mandate for which they are paid requires them to serve whom the elected city officials also serve. They are non-partisan in the sense that they belong to no political party.
On the other hand, such collaboration makes them prone to corruption. Their alliance also depends on their personal usefulness to each other.
Setting the controversy aside, whether we like it or not, elected barangay officials openly seek the company of local government officials and vice versa, akin to telling each other, “You scratch my back, I will scratch yours.”
To quote a line from the ABC-Molo manifesto, “If both remain united, no political entity can defeat them.”
Going back to the manifesto, it was subtly warning Espinosa against head-on collision with Treñas for the sake of preserving their strong partnership that encompasses family ties – their wives being sisters.
What betrayed their impending clash was Espinosa’s act of dismissing executive assistants and City Hall job hires identified with Treñas, though they have yet to confirm their parting.
As far as their supporters are concerned, the duo’s only one way to thrive is to run together for different positions. Since there is no choice for Treñas but either run for mayor or quit politics, Espinosa might as well adjust to it.
While the manifesto signatories have no doubt offended their ABC president for keeping him out of the picture, their controversial move was logical because mere derailment of the Treñas-Espinosa train would open opportunity for the weaker aspirants to join the race. In simple mathematics, a diminution of their combined forces by 50 percent or even more could wipe them off.
As a popular saying adopted into a song goes, “Together we stand, divided we fall.”
There certainly are enough wannabes waiting for whatever development would push them to also run for the House or City Hall posts. We can name some of them: Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, businessman Larry Jamora, Councilor Joshua Alim, former councilors Lex Tupas, Jam-jam Baronda and Ramon Cua Locsin.
Meanwhile, the Ilonggos are amused, “So what if Mayor Joe and Jerry gamble their political future? It’s their money, not ours, at stake.” (hvego31@gmail.com/PN)
