Guv is back in fighting form
SAN CARLOS CITY—“I’m very fine. I’ve not been sick. I’d never had a heart attack and I’m back.”
Thus said Gov. Amado Espino Jr. in response to the malicious spam text message that circulated in Pangasinan last week by still unidentified persons claiming that the Espino family is asking for prayer as he was reportedly in critical condition suffering a heart attack while on an official trip to the United States.
Espino left for the U.S. on June 9 and was back July 1.
He said the text message was “a sick joke” and it hurt his family, most especially his 90-year old mother living in Bautista town who, upon learning of the message, had him called up in the US then got worried after getting no answer as it was then between 12:00 midnight to 1:00 a.m. in the US.
Espino noted that it was not the first time that rumors were spread by his detractors that he was seeking medical services in the US.
Now on his fifth year and his second term as governor, Espino said such rumors usually cropped up each time he left for the US, the recent trip being his fourth.
But this time, he said, was the most serious since the message sender made it appear that it came directly from the Espino family.
Espino appealed to his detractors to stop resorting to such “cruel jokes” saying they also have families of their own.
SHAHANI CHALLENGE
At the same time, Espino accepted the challenge of Sixth District Board Member Shahani that provincial officials, starting from the governor, submit health records to prove to the people that they are fit and healthy to do their jobs
“That’s good! I challenge Board Member Shahani too that we undergo medical test at the same time, not only physically but mentally,” he said.
Shahani is a known ally of former Governor Victor Agbayani, who is reportedly planning to again run against Espino in the May 2013 election.
Espino said Pangasinenses in the US informed him that Shahani spread “unsavory talks” about him when the board member was recently in the US.
“Binibilang ko ang kanyang sinabi at sasagutin ko ang mg aito isa-isa. Tignan ko lang kung masagot niya kapag ako ay nagsalita,” Espino said.
Espino said the investigation he ordered on the last spam text indicates that it was members of the media that first received the message.
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