Espino: There’s a time for politics

SAN CARLOS CITY, Philippines – “This is a free country.”

Thus said Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. on the move of mayors in the western part of the province in declaring their all-out support for the gubernatorial bid of former fifth district congressman Mark Cojuangco in 2016.

Espino said he has no ill feelings toward the mayors for their support for Cojuangco, a party mate in the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

“They remain as my friends. There is a time for politics,” he told journalists in Monday’s groundbreaking of the emergency and operating rooms of the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital here. 

The mayors – Arthur Celeste of Alaminos City, and his brother, Noli Celeste of Bolinao; Gwen Yamamoto of Bani; Carlitos Reyes of Mabini; Aldrin Cerdan of Anda; Jose Pajeta Jr. of Agno; Noel Nacar of Dasol, president of the Pangasinan Mayors’ League; and Alberto Guiang of Burgos – went to the NPC headquarters in Quezon City last Friday to openly declare their all-out support for Cojuangco, son of NPC founder, former ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco.

With them were first district board members Anthony Sison and Napoleon Fontelera Jr., and Vice Mayor Richard Martinez of Infanta town.

First district Rep. Jesus Celeste, brother of the Alaminos and Bolinao mayors, gave his blessings to the mayors for their support for Cojuangco.

The Celestes are known Espino allies, but Mayor Arthur Celeste said they are not cutting their ties with the third-term governor, as they have supported him for nine years.

The first district of Pangasinan is a known Celeste bailiwick and mayors there unite for a common candidate during elections.

Sual Mayor Roberto Arcinue was not around during the meeting last Friday but has openly thrown his backing for Cojuangco’s gubernatorial bid in different media fora.

Talk is rife that Espino’s son and namesake, board member Amado Espino III, president of the provincial federation of the Liga ng mga Barangay, is being groomed by the governor to succeed him, but the Espino camp remains mum about it.

Espino said the announcement made for 2016 and declaration of support in Pangasinan politics was rather made early as no one in the national level has done so far.

Cojuangco made known his plan to run for governor last February yet, and has started to go around the province since then to tell the public about his intention.

Sources said the young Espino is also preparing to run for governor, and the realignment of municipal and city groups is being prepared to support his plan in case he pursues it.

Espino reiterated that it is still too early to talk about politics as they have two years more left to serve their term.

“Hopefully that would be over because they (mayors) have voiced out their opinion and I hope we would focus on our work,” he said.

He said, “Let us work first and face that (politics) later because anyway the filing of candidacies is in October 2015 yet.”

“They are mayors and I am the governor so we can do big things together,” he added.

Meanwhile, Espino said he remains with the NPC but told journalists he would sit down with provincial administrator Rafael Howard Baraan to discuss the mayors’ declaration of support for Cojuangco’s 2016 gubernatorial bid.