Mayor will not recognize newly-elected guv

By: Jomarie A. Billones

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Mayor Leodegario “Jun” Labao of Mambusao, Capiz said he will not recognize Vice Gov. Esteban Evan “Nonoy” Contreras as the newly-elected governor of Capiz until the end of his term.

Labao believes that his town does not need the help of the provincial government in terms of projects and financial assistance.

“I don’t need the help coming from governor-elect Nonoy Contreras, nor l will come to his office at the provincial capitol,” he said.

But if Contreras himself will come to Mambusao and offer projects, Labao said he will thank the former.

Labao said he was able to improve their town without the support of the provincial government, particularly from the administration of outgoing Governor Antonio del Rosario.

Del Rosario, whom Labao supported in the May 13, 2019 elections, defeated Contreras in Mambusao.

But province-wide, Contreras beat Del Rosario by a margin of 17,000 votes.

Earlier, Labao announced that he will run for president of the League of the Municipalities (LMP)-Capiz chapter next month.

His opponent would be Mayor Receliste “Tanoy” Escolin of Pres. Roxas in the first district of Capiz.

Reports indicated that Contreras is supporting Escolin while Labao has the backing of 95 to 98 percent of Capiz mayors.

According to Labao, he is not worried if Escolin has Contreras’s support because the governor will not be the one to elect the LMP president.

Labao said he tried to dissuade Escolin from running for the LMP presidency but the latter ignored him.

Escolin said he also has the support of Capiz first district Rep. Emmanuel Billones Sr. even as he woos fellow mayors.