LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Aug. 15 (PNA–Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. has finally confirmed for the first time that his son and namesake Board Member Amado Espino III will run for governor in tandem with incumbent Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim in the 2016 election.
He made the confirmation when he spoke during the first-ever The President Hotel Breakfast Club on Aug. 13 here attended by media practitioners and members of civic and professional clubs in Pangasinan.
Now in his third and final term of office, Espino is no longer eligible for another re-election
Although Gov. Espino did not give specific answer when asked about his personal plans for 2016, he stressed that the direction charted by his administration is best continued by a leader who is a true-blooded Pangasinense.
“Definitely my son, Board Member Pogi (nickname of the younger Espino) will run for governor,” he said as he disclosed that the younger Espino will have Vice Governor Calimlim as his running-mate in the upcoming polls.
In addition, Gov. Espino said everything will be done for the love of the province and not for personal reason or for power.
Asked if it is true that he will run as congressman in the fifth congressional district of Pangasinan and not in the third or fourth districts, Gov. Espino insinuated that he might take into consideration the clamor for him to serve the fifth congressional district.
Further, he said that whatever could benefit the candidacy of his son, Board Member Espino and the people of Pangasinan will definitely be his priority.
Meanwhile, the President Hotel Breakfast Club, as explained by veteran journalist Jun Velasco, president of the Pangasinan Association of Columnist Editors (PACE), is a forum where the media and civil society can exchange views affecting Pangasinan and possibly craft policy directions for the province as well.
In the same forum. Espino called on media practitioners in Pangasinan to practice their profession in a highly dignified manner which is worthy of their occupation that revolves in a “culture of honesty, truth, and respect for the good names of others.”
In the same forum, the governor was asked to address the alleged ‘unprofessional stunts’ of some local media practitioners in the province.
In response, the governor disclosed that in his 40 years in public service, this is the first time he has addressed the issue as he added that while there is a thing called freedom of the press there is also that freedom given to anyone to fight for his or her rights especially if it concerns one’s reputation.
It can be recalled that the governor has filed libel cases against four radio commentators for destroying his good reputation by spreading malicious accusations against him and his family.
“I am not curtailing the freedom of the press,” Gov. Espino said (referring to the cases he filed) as he added that even if there is freedom, an individual must also know the boundaries and limits of that freedom.
During the forum, the governor disclosed details on how he transformed Pangasinan in barely eight years, from mediocrity and obscurity into a destination of choice and multi-awarded LGU. (PNA)