Massive win team treñas dominates iloilo city polls

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

LONE district Rep. Jerry Treñas of the National Unity Party (NUP) and his slate won majority of the local positions in the partial and unofficial tally results received by the Iloilo City Board of Canvassers.

Out of the 388 clustered precincts, 384 have already transmitted the results or a turnout of 92.82 percent as of 10:45 p.m. Monday.

Treñas scored a landslide victory against incumbent mayor and brother-in-law Mayor Jose Espinosa III of the Nacionalista Party (NP) with 132,902 votes while Espinosa only got 64,602 votes.

Pacita Gonzales, wife of the late Raul Gonzales Sr. of the (Lakas-CMD) placed third with 11,811 votes.

In his social media post, Treñas expressed his happiness over his landslide win.

“I cannot contain the happiness I feel right now knowing that the people of Iloilo City did not leave me alone in this journey. In fact, naghugpong guid ang bilog nga Ilonggo community para mag-upod sa akon. Kag subong, grabe guid ang akun kalipay nga nag-abot na ang tion nga atun gin-hulat. Our victory is not just the victory of Team Uswag, but the victory of Ilonggos! Ang tanan nga ini, indi guid matuman if not for your help and unwavering support, kag tanan man ini para guid sa inyo tanan!” he said in his post.

Former city councilor, Julienne Baronda of NUP also beat her opponent, City Councilor Joshua Alim of Pwersa ng Masa (PMP) with 113,994 votes. She is the first lady representative of Iloilo City.

Alim  got 73,205 votes, followed by former councilor Perla Zulueta of NP with 14,674 votes.

Treñas’ runningmate, incumbent Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon of Timawa Party, is leading with 118,004 votes while Councilor Plaridel Nava of PMP has 61,251.

Both Alim and Nava conceded through their social media sites Monday evening.

For the City Council, the winners are:

• incumbent councilors Love Baronda (129, 875)
• Armand Parcon (104,387)
• Roding Ganzon (101,198)
• Candice Magdalane Tupas (97,159)
• Jay Treñas (98,712)
• Ely Estante (88,877)
• Atty. Rommel Duron (81,830)
• Punong Barangay Jojo Javellana (76,368)
• Allan Zaldivar (79,754)
• Councilor Lyndon Acap (72,823)
• Councilor Mandrei Malabor(69,057)
• Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo (67,002)
• Parcon, Ganzon, Treñas, Estante, Javellana, Duron, and Zaldivar are with Team Uswag.

Meanwhile, Atty. Mavil Majarucon Sia said they are happy with the results of the elections despite the glitches in the Voters Registration Verification Machines (VRVMs).

“We are happy with the results. We cannot really perfect the system. We will try to proclaim early in the morning,” she said.

Out of the 294,776 voters in the city, Sia reported that at least 78 percent turned out to vote.

Meanwhile, the Board of Canvassers said they are still waiting for the transmission from the clustered precincts of Barangays Balantang, Calumpang, Monica Blumentritt and Sto. Nino Norte.

RECONCILIATION

Espinosa said he is open to reconciliation with his brother-in-law-turned-political rival, lone district Rep. Jerry Treñas.

“Ako open gid ako ya. Sin-o gid kita. Ako ya gapati kon naga amiguhay tana mas magaayo ang aton syudad halin sang una, waay gid ko kaagi pangita kontra maski sa City Hall,” he said.

Both Espinosa and Treñas are running for the mayoral seat in Iloilo City.

The brother-in-laws have been throwing brick brats at each other weeks before the midterm polls.

According to Espinosa, there should be unity especially after the elections.

“Everything should go back to normal after the elections. After this, kinahanglan isa naman kita. We should work together even nga nag binahin bahin kita sa mga barangay, may sunggudanay. Let us join hands naman para mag-reconstruct sang syudad naton,” he said.

Espinosa cast his votes at A. Montes Elementary School at around 12:30 p.m. while Treñas voted at Luis Marisol Elementary School.

Meanwhile, Espinosa encouraged everyone to remove the campaign posters and paraphernalia scattered around the metro.

“Buligan niyo kami buas magkakas sang mga posters, tinluon ta naman ang syudad… taga barangay da, mga kapitanes kag mga barangay kagawad, tana nga sector, if you can join us clean-up, it will be a joint effort nga aprisyahon gid sang aton pumoluyo,” Espinosa said.