When will Treñas and Joe III forgive each other?

“When a deep injury is done us, we never recover until we forgive.” —Alan Paton

By Alex P. Vidal

THE two successive election defeats incurred by former Iloilo City Mayor Jose “Joe III” Espinosa III in 2019 and 2022 were a bitter pill to swallow for a highly regarded public servant with a sterling track record.

If he can’t bounce back soon or in the next election, Espinosa, an honest and intelligent man, will be a big loss for Iloilo City politics.

The last thing he needs to put a final nail on his political coffin is a third straight setback in local positions.

Espinosa’s latest defeat to reelectionist Iloilo City lone district Rep. Julienne “Jam-Jam” Baronda could have been avoided if he and his brother-in-law, Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas, weren’t anymore at loggerheads.

As long as Treñas is still active in politics and they remain at odds, Espinosa, who has no more power and with a limited clout now, is doomed.

The back-to-back setbacks could put an exclamation point on his political career—unless he and Treñas will finally kiss and make up, let bygones be bygones and agree to rebuild their splintered family and political forces before they turn 80.

But after two contentious elections, the relationship between Espinosa and Treñas appeared to have further sunk deeper in the ocean instead of making some headway. 

It is said that Philippine elections sometimes could permanently cripple relationships. 

In the case of Espinosa and Treñas, time didn’t heal their wounds?

When will they forgive each other?

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It’s now crystal clear that since their feud erupted in the 2019 election, Treñas still hasn’t forgiven Espinosa, or vice versa, because they ran under two rival political parties in the May 9, 2022 election and cavorted with different candidates for city mayor and House of Representatives instead of supporting each other.

After soundly beating Espinosa for mayor in May 2019, Treñas, who trounced radioman Salvador “Jun” Capulot for mayor in May 2022, backed Baronda’s releection bid for congressman against Espinosa, who supported Capulot.

But even if the two brothers-in-law decided to bury their hatchet for the sake of family unity before the May 9, 2022 election, it wouldn’t follow that Treñas will discard second-termer Baronda for Espinosa.

Treñas’ political commitment with Baronda doesn’t end with the  reinstatement of his relationship with Espinosa. 

Baronda’s position shouldn’t be part of any package deal by any wheeler-dealer.  

Both gentlemen can always break bread together again anytime and rekindle their sweet moments without sacrificing Baronda, or interrupting the lady’s joyride in congress.

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The newly elected neophyte politicians don’t need to be reminded like kindergarten pupils on what to do especially if they are in the legislature—local and national.

Whatever they do or plan to do now that they have been elected, is their call. 

We won’t babysit or pamper those who are incompetent and inept.

Some of them were elected because of their notoriety and popularity, but it’s part of the game and there is nothing we can do about it now; we can’t deny this fact and reality.

The obligation of the voters is to elect their chosen candidates in a free election and watch while they serve in their capacity as public servants. It’s up to the elected officials whether they will bungle or shine.

Good luck.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

A lesson to all thieves

“We are determined to build a society defined by decency and integrity that does not tolerate the plunder of public resources nor the theft by corporate criminals of the hard-earned savings of ordinary people.”

—Cyril Ramaphosa

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WE will not anymore add insult to the injury of former Iloilo second district Rep. Judy Syjuco, who was recently found guilty “beyond reasonable doubt” of graft by the Sandiganbayan in connection with a vocational education program funded with P20 million from her Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) in 2005.

She and several others have been sentenced to a maximum of eight years in prison and were further perpetually disqualified by the anti-graft court from holding public office.

In her age and status in society, it’s inconceivable to imagine her being locked up in jail. 

We believe she may not have actually stolen the money for her whims and caprices; but she had to be indicted as a command responsibility even if she did not literally pocket the public funds.

When public funds are stolen, the thieves should be penalized especially if they are public officials who have been entrusted of the funds and to protect the taxpayers’ interest.  

With a budget of P20 million, the education program was actually ran by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) that was then headed by her late husband Augusto, who had also served as congressman in the same district.

Instead, may her predicament serve as a big lesson to all other happy-go-lucky public officials who steal from the taxpayers and think they can get away with it.   

 

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Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas has beaten to the draw, so to speak, some of the national candidates running for president, vice president and senators when he became the first local chief executive to "condemn in the strongest term possible" the actions of three Chinese Coast Guard ships that reportedly blocked and fired water cannons against two Filipino boats on Nov. 16.

If he were running for national office, Treñas’ popularity would have zoomed to heights if a survey was conducted anytime after he suggested in a statement that "we cannot let this go and forgotten.”

His words had reverberated and was picked up by the national press.

The Ilonggo city mayor had also asked the national government to press for a diplomatic protest. It may be recalled that the boats were carrying food and other supplies for a Marine detachment at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, or located about 105 nautical miles off Palawan, Philippines, well within the country's 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.

Department of Foreign (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the boats had to abort their resupply mission even if nobody was injured in the incident.

 

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I received another email on November 17 from New York Governor Kathy Hochul which she also sent to other New Yorkers:

Alex, Thanksgiving is just a week away! I hope you're looking forward to the holiday as much as I am, and that you've got all your plans in place to celebrate safely. Remember: get the vaccine if you haven't, get a booster if you have, wear a mask, & keep practicing social distancing.

Let's dive in.

BOOSTER DOSES. If you feel that you are at risk for COVID and are already fully vaccinated, get the booster. And if you are unsure about the booster shots, please talk with your health care provider. Visit ny.gov/boosters to learn more about the COVID boosters and see if you're eligible.

YOUTH VACCINATIONS AT MASS VAX SITES. Ten of New York's mass vaccination sites are now administering the COVID-19 vaccine to newly eligible 5- to 11- year-olds. Parents and guardians can make appointments at a state-run vaccine site for their child at ny.gov/vaccine.

REMEMBER TO ENTER OUR VAX BADGE STICKER CONTEST. We launched a contest so kids can proudly share that they're vaccinated. Parents and guardians can enter their child's designs by submitting an image of your design to me (@GovKathyHochul) via social media, say where you're from and use the hashtag #NYVaxForKids. Lucky winners from across the state will be selected to be featured on our "I'm Vaccinated" stickers!

As of November 16, 2021, there are 2,102 New Yorkers hospitalized with COVID-19. Our 7-day percentage positivity average was 3.47%, which is up from 2.78% last week.

Per the CDC as of November 17, 2021, 89.3% of adult New Yorkers have at least one vaccine dose. So far, 28,627,601 total vaccine doses have been administered, and 95,434 doses were administered over the past 24 hours.

QUESTION: Will my Excelsior Pass be updated now that I've received the booster shot (third Pfizer dose)? (Pat, Westchester County)

ANSWER: At this time, an Excelsior Vaccination Pass only includes an individual’s initial vaccine series. It does not include a boosters and/or additional doses. However, as of November 8, New Yorkers who received a booster or additional dose can retrieve their Excelsior Vaccination Pass Plus which includes all COVID-19 doses received to date. If you retrieved your Excelsior Vaccination Pass Plus before this update, visit epass.ny.gov to retrieve a new Excelsior Vaccination Pass Plus at any time. Following the November 8 update, New Yorkers can expect their booster or additional doses to be available 3-4 days after receiving their shot.

We've made great progress in getting vaccinated, with more than 89% adult New Yorkers with at least one dose, and now that they're eligible, our kids are stepping up to the plate and getting the vaccine. Thank you to all the young New Yorkers (and their parents) who are keeping themselves and their loved ones safe ahead of the holidays. Hope you have a great rest of your week, New York. Ever Upward, Governor Kathy Hochul

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

Joe III’s ‘ill-fated’ congressional bid

 “Particularly with the blues, it's not just about bad times. It's about the healing spirit.”

—Taj Mahal

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

ATTY. Jose “Joe III” Espinosa III is a good man. 

He could have been Iloilo City’s congressman three years ago.

At that time, the former city mayor’s relationship with his brother-in-law, incumbent city mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Trenas, wasn’t yet stormy.

In fact, the duo could’ve formed a formidable team, one of the strongest-ever in the history of Iloilo City.

But fate had a different version.

At the time when both Espinosa and Trenas needed to join forces, they allowed pride, ambition, ego and lust for more power to obliterate their dream political union.

We’re not saying that only one is guilty. 

Both have blood in their hands.

They both refused to pave the way; they were too big for their britches.

Former congressman Trenas, angling to regain city hall, wanted then incumbent city mayor Espinosa to run for congress, perhaps, to preserve their team unity and affinity.

No “outsider” would have erected a tent within the parameters of the rock-solid Trenas-Espinosa bandwagon if pride, ambition, ego, lust for more power didn’t mushroom in their ecological system.

Anyone running for vice mayor in the dream Espinosa (congressman)-Trenas (city mayor) team six years ago would be the sure winner as part of the “package deal” (with due respect to incumbent Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, who is very much qualified and competent).

 

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When Trenas and Espinosa couldn’t hack it, they both ended up running in separate ways like they didn’t know the road to San Jose.

The period of suspended animation and tension-filled negotiations mediated by kins and political buddies proved to be forlorn and injurious as they resulted in more enmity and antagonism rather than reunification and handshakes.

They both fundamentally have forgotten the story of Jonathan and David. 

When David became a member of Saul's household and won many victories against the Philistines, he and Jonathan became close friends.  

When the two met for the last time in the Wilderness of Ziph, they planned that David would be the next king of Israel and Jonathan his minister (I Sam. 23:16–18).

Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying, `The Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever. '"

Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.

 

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Thus the holy comet fell upon Julienne “Jam-Jam” Baronda, who was politically dormant when the Trenas-Espinosa l’affaire dawned and was torn to shreds.

Baronda, who had previously lost to Espinosa in the vice mayoral race, became the apple of the eye of Trenas, then hysterical to put up a decent and attractive slate sellable to the young and old voting population.

After lines have been drawn, the titanic showdown became inevitable when Trenas and Espinosa clashed in a messy battle for city hall capped by sordid episodes and vitriols that almost permanently wrecked the kinship.

And the rest is history.

Espinosa is back in the hustings. He filed his certificate of candidacy for congressman in the May 9, 2022 local election, pitting him against his former political ally and now nemesis, Rep. Baronda.

We don’t underestimate Espinosa’s strength and charisma, but we find his candidacy to be “ill-fated” if not ill-timed.

If we look back to history, it’s always an uphill climb to dethrone an incumbent elected official with a vast machinery who was never tainted with graft and corruption during the official’s first term of office.

We aren’t saying that Baronda is saint, but she is now probably equipped with a wherewithal double when she first launched her candidacy in 2019 alongside her “Tito Jerry.”

And although blood is thicker than water, as the saying goes, we heard Trenas, who claimed to have been badly besmirched and tormented in the previous election campaign, still hasn’t gotten rid of the cobwebs of emotional and mental anguish and may still root for his protégé, Rep. Baronda.

Again, Atty. Espinosa is a good man. Those who know him will not disagree with us. We hate to see him suffer a back-to-back political setback at the time when healing process with his brother-in-law is almost showing positive signs, or so it seems.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo)