More allies are coming in – Joe
- TBN News
- Sep 29, 2018
- 2 min read
ILOILO City Mayor Jose “Joe” Espinosa III said more allies are expected to join his camp as he seeks to retain his post in the 2019 elections.
The latest to join the Espinosa group is former city councilor Perla Zulueta who is being groomed for the lone congressional district seat.
Earlier, Zulueta said she is open to run in tandem with Espinosa.
“Bal-an niyo naman si Joe III, halos puros ta amigo. Ti subong nakit-an na nila. Kag ang mga amigo naton ga-amat-amat na guluwa,” Zulueta said.
City Councilor RLeoni Gerochi, on the other hand, said he is also open to running as Espinosa’s vice mayor.
Councilors Liezl Joy Zulueta-Salazar and Ed Peñaredondo have already scuttled the camp of Iloilo City lone district Rep. Jerry Treñas for Espinosa.
Treñas and Espinosa are facing each other in the 2019 mayoral race.
Councilors Candice Magdalene Tupas and Mandrei Malabor are reported to take their oath with the mayor’s party, Nacionalista Party (NP), on Oct 3, 2018.
Gerard Ganzon, son of Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, is also rumored to be joining Espinosa’s city council slate.
Ironically, Ganzon will be the running mate of Treñas.
But Espinosa consistently stressed that his lineup has yet to be ironed out and that negotiations are still ongoing.
“We are still studying whether to complete the slate or leave a vacancy. Kay kun subong kumpletuhon naton, over na kita,” Espinosa said.
He said that recently, he went to Cebu to consult some national leaders and members of the NP-Hugpong Pagbabago coalition.
The mayor met with Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and former police Chief Ronald Bato dela Rosa who are being groomed as senatorial bets of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
NP is an ally of PDP-Laban where Treñas is a member.
Espinosa added he will make formal announcements before the filing of certificate of candidacy on Oct 11-17.
“All of these will be announced in the very near future,” Espinosa said.
On the potential Zulueta-Espinosa tandem, the mayor said it is up to the Ilonggos to decide whom to vote.
SOURCE: The Daily Guardian
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