ESPINOS VS
OPPOSITION’S “PROXY WARS” CONTINUE
By Mortz C. Ortigoza
CALASIAO – Seen as a
continuation of a “proxy war” between the provincial leadership and the
opposition members, an ally of the governor defeated a well-oiled rival for the
leadership of the mayors’ organization in Pangasinan.
Lingayen Mayor
Leopoldo Bataoil shocked the opponents of Pangasinan governor Amado Espino III
and his father and namesake when he defeated Mangaldan mayor Mary Marilyn
Lambino with a thin hair 21-19 result among the 44 members of the League of
Municipalities of the Philippines – Pangasinan Chapter (LMP-PC).
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MAGNANIMOUS WINNER –
Newly elected League of Municipalities of the Philippines – Pangasinan Chapter
(LMP-PC) President Leopoldo Bataoil (right) shakes hands with Pangasinan Vice
Governor Mark Lambino. Lingayen Mayor Bataoil, a former solon, defeated in the
recent LMP-PC poll Lambino’s mother Mangaldan mayor Marilyn Lambino.
An insider of the LMP-PC told this writer that the night before the September 2 election, Vice Governor Lambino billeted at the plush The Monarch Hotel here the mayor-supporters of his mother. The hotel was the venue in the next morning’s poll.
“Several days ago they met with the Lambinos
and last night they were here,”
the source, who asked for anonymity, said after the counting of the votes.
He cited that several
weeks ago, mayors friendly with Bataoil met too with the latter in his resort
at Purok Marcela at Barangay Libsong West in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
“Governor Pogi Espino was there in that
meeting,” the source said.
Just like the series
of clandestine meetings last year among the members of the League of Barangays of the
province of Pangasinan led by Alaminos City and Sta. Barbara village chairmen
Mark Bryan Celeste and Jinky Zaplan, these meetings of mayors with Bataoil and
Lambino were seen as influenced by quid quo pro.
In the May election,
Marilyn and Mark Lambinos shocked many voters and political kibitzers when they
subjugated through their financial juggernauts seasoned politicians Mangaldan reelective Mayor Bonafe D. Parayno
and former three term board member, lawyer, and vice gubernatorial rival Angel
Baniqued Sr.
Parayno and Baniqued
were allies of the Espinos.
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| RIVALS - Mangaldan mayor Marilyn Lambino and Lingayen mayor Leopoldo Bataoil. |
Vice Governor
Lambino is seen as a probable rival of Governor Espino in the 2022 governorship
election.
“Four of the 44 mayors did not join the LMP
election,” the source said.
The chief executives were
Bayambang mayor Cezar T. Quiambao, Urbiztondo Mayor Martin Sison, Infanta Mayor
Marvin Martinez, and Villasis Mayor Nonato Abrenica.
The absence of these mayors did not make a dent for a Lambino victory as several supporters claimed
because Mayors Martinez and Abrenica were Governor Espino and Mayor Bataoil's supporters while Mayors Quiambao and Sison were allies of the opposition lead
by Vice Governor Lambino.
Bataoil told this
writer that as the president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines
– Pangasinan Chapter he sits as a regular member of the Provincial Development
Council.
He said it is
possible he will run for the position of the LMP-PC Region -1 where the four
provinces will elect their representative.
He said he has no
moist eyes for the LMP-National but will support its leadership if he will be
given a lower post.
“I don’t have
plan for a national of course if I will be tapped for any particularly position
in the national why not?”
He cited Pangasinan
has a lot to offer for the country and should not be left behind.
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