MAYOR Jose Espinosa III calls out lone district representative Congressman Jerry Treñas for “shouting” to Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc. vice president Marissa Segovia after the Iloilo Local Economic Development meeting on February 14.

“Uncalled for gid ya. I have not done it and I will never do it to a woman,” he said.

Treñas was not invited during the celebration of the Dinagyang Festival that resulted him to confront Segovia.

Espinosa and Treñas were political rivals for the mayoral position on the upcoming elections.

With such incident, Espinosa said that Treñas aims to “twist” the story to push the blame against him.

“Then I manipulate mo nga daw si Marissa pa kag ako pa basulon,” he added. (Then you manipulate and blamed Marissa and me.)

He also recalled that Treñas did the same action to Iloilo City Planning and Development Office Assistant Department Head Dolly Zoluaga after she presented a plan for City Civic Center that may affect the area of his office.

On the other hand, Treñas was not able to express in advance to Espinosa about his plans on the 2019 elections that led them to a strong rivalry and conflict. The two politicians are brothers-in-law.

“Kay kung ako, wala ni natabu tanan (it didn’t happened) di,” Espinosa said.

He also clarified that he holds “no grudge” to their relationship. (Carolyn Jane Abello)