No Defections of Pro-Espino Mayors to Guico – Veems

A Mere Get-Together

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan – Two pro – Amado Espino, Jr. former mayors who are now vice mayors denied that they and the chief executives defected to the camp of the new Pangasinan governor when they were seen socializing with him at a provincial government owned hotel in Lingayen.

“Hindi. Pinatawag lang kami. Pro –Espino pa rin kami,” San Fabian Vice Mayor Constante “Danny” Agbayani told this writer in the sideline of the election of the Vice Mayors League – Pangasinan Chapter held last Tuesday at the function hall of Jeck's Restaurant here.

POLITICAL NEMESIS Pangasinan Governor Ramon "Mon-Mon" Guico, III (left photo) and former Congressman Amado T. Espino, Jr.

Binmaley Vice Mayor Sam Rosario told reporters in a huddle that the countless incumbent mayors and vice mayors of Pangasinan acquiesced to the invitation of Governor Ramon “Monmon” Guico, III for a get-together.

“He talked about the forthcoming elections of the Vice Mayors League, Councilors League, and the Mayors League,” he said about the agenda of the meeting.

The seasoned nine years Mayor said there was no attempt on the side of the Governor to proselytize the Espino’s mayors to abandon the former governor.

Among the 47 city and municipal mayors in Pangasinan, majority of the chief executives came from the political party of Espino and his former governor son and namesake. Guico, a former Congressman of the 5th District, defeated the latter in the May 9, 2022 election.

In a consensus initiated by Guico, Mayors League of the Philippines –Pangasinan Chapter President Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil retained his post through the unanimous nod of the 39 mayors who were there.

Guico introduced to his guests in that Capitol Resort Hotel meeting his presidential candidate for the Vice Mayors League-Pangasinan Chapter (VML-PC) and Philippines Councilors League –Pangasinan Chapter (PCL-PC).

Mangaldan Vice Mayor Mark Stephen Mejia ran unopposed here last Tuesday when Espino loyalist and acting VML-PC Loaac Vice Mayor Nelson Gayo backtracked upon learning that the Governor was hell bent to support Mejia.

Despite former Governor Espino pledged of support to San Manuel Councilor Antonio "Honeyboy" Perez in his bid for the presidency of the PCL-PC, Guico brought Perez rival’s Alaminos City Councilor Arthur “Junjun” Celeste, Jr. who spoke last July 16 before the Pangasinan mayors and vice mayors held in that coastal hotel.

Another source, who asked in condition of anonymity, told Northern Watch Newspaper that before the 39 mayors left the meeting they met one-on-one the governor and his allies in a room. He did not disclose what transpired there.

Guico was seen in that get together- with his Team Aguila’s allies’ Department of Agrarian Reform Sec. Conrad Estrella, III, Congressmen Art Celeste (1^st District), Mark Cojuangco (2^nd District), and Ramon “Monching” Guico, II (5^th District).

READ MY OTHER BLOG:

Billionaire-Mayor Explains How Aguila Defeated the Espinos

MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

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I am a twenty years seasoned Op-Ed Political Writer in various newspapers and Blogger exposing government corruptions, public officials's idiocy and hypocrisies, and analyzing local and international issues. I have a master’s degree in Public Administration and professional government eligibility. I taught for a decade Political Science and Economics in universities in Metro Manila and cities of Urdaneta, Pangasinan and Dagupan. Follow me on Twitter @totoMortz or email me at totomortz@yahoo.com.