‘Pogi’ Espino confident of retaking guv post
FORMER Gov. Amado Espino III’s told local media shortly after filing his Certificate of Candidacy on October 5, that his decision to return as next governor was prompted by the mounting clamor of his supporters who persistently egged him to wrest back the capitol from the incumbent.
Espino was the sitting governor when he lost to current Gov. Ramon Guico III in the previous election held in 2022, a result that his family and political allies questioned but did not pursue in a legal venue.
He expressed confidence he can defeat Guico this time with the support anew of the people of Pangasinan.
At a press conference in Bugallon three days before the start of filing of CoCs, Espino said he is running to let Pangasinenses decide who is the better provincial governor between him and the incumbent after three years in office.
To the cheers of “Pogi, Pogi, Pogi!” (his nickname), Espino filed his CoC along with his running mate, former three-term Dasol Mayor Noel Nacar, and their five candidates for board members under the banner of Abante Pangasinan Ilokano (API), a party-list group and a registered political party.
He was accompanied by his father, former Governor and Rep. Amado Espino Jr., his mother Bugallon Mayor Prescila Espino, his wife Karina and their son and daughter.
Among his supporters waiting outside the Commission on Elections office were familiar faces of the past Espino regime who were booted out of their positions when the new provincial administration began its reign.
“Napabayaan nila ang mga senior citizens at mahihirap nang itigil nila ang regular medical mission. And when they eventually resumed it, malapit na ang election, hindi na maiikot ang buong Pangasinan,” one Espino loyalist said.
He also noted that under the Espinos, all hospitals operated by the province provided free services, a policy that changed under Guico, which he described as “a direct insult to the poor like us.”
Espino’s teammates for the Sangguniang Panlalawigan are former board member Nestor Reyes of the 2nd district; former Calasiao Mayor Joseph Arman Bauzon for 3rd district; Mangaldan Councilor Aldrin Soriano, 4th district; Herodotus Sumera, and Rosalina Apaga, both of the 5th district. (Leonardo Micua)
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