DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines – Reelectionist Gov. Amado Espino Jr. and his slate for provincial positions trooped to the Commission on Elections’ provincial office here yesterday, confident of victory in next year’s polls as they have the best programs for the people of Pangasinan.
Espino, who is seeking his third and final term, said he is happy with the support of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) under the Cojuangcos and Biskeg na Pangasinan (Strength of Pangasinan), a local political party founded by Secretary Antonio Villar Jr., chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board, for his ticket.
Espino won by more than 500,000 votes over his closest rival, former governor Victor Agbayani, in the 2010 elections. Agbayani filed an electoral protest which is still pending.
Espino’s running mate is reelectionist Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr.
NPC provincial chairman Mark Cojuangco said this is the first time he has seen overwhelming support extended by local officials for the Espino-Calimlim tandem.