Ex-Mayor Espinosa’s Uswag council seat uncertain

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Former Iloilo City Mayor Jose “Joe” Espinosa III’s chances of joining the Uswag slate for the 2025 midterm elections have dimmed after the councilor seat initially offered to him was filled.

Executive Assistant Jose Maria “Nene” De la Llana has been officially added to the list of candidates running for city councilor under Mayor Jerry Treñas’ Uswag slate.

Treñas announced on Tuesday that De la Llana will replace former Public Order and Safety Management Office (POSMO) head Jeck Conlu, who resigned from the party earlier this month.

De la Llana, currently the Executive Assistant for Mental Health under Treñas, is the grandson of former Vice Mayor Guillermo De la Llana.

In the 2022 elections, De la Llana ran for city councilor as an independent candidate but did not secure a seat in the top 12.

In May, De la Llana had already expressed his readiness to run for city councilor should a candidate from the Uswag lineup withdraw. He was also among those shortlisted for the councilor seat on Treñas’ slate.

Treñas confirmed in August that he had personally offered Espinosa a spot on the Uswag slate following Conlu’s resignation.

When asked about Espinosa’s potential role, Treñas said, “(Espinosa) will have a place in the campaign and beyond.”