BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Mayor Richard Jaojoco hailed as a “positive development” what he described as the looming “unity ticket” that appears to be taking shape in Toboso, Negros Occidental.
Jaojoco, who is now on his third term as mayor of the town, claimed that majority of the barangay captains endorsed his wife, Madonnah, as their next mayor, with former Association of Barangay Captains president, Ma. Luisa de la Cruz, as her running mate.
“Unity is key to the town’s progress,” Jaojoco, who dominated in seven of the nine barangays in the 2019 elections, said.
Jaojoco had earlier said he is running for councilor of Toboso in next year’s elections.
Madonnah, a nurse by profession, is the niece of the late Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr.
De la Cruz is affiliated with Love-Negros, while Jaojoco is a member of the United Negros Alliance.
While she may be a political newcomer, Madonnah is not a stranger to public service as she has been actively supporting her husband’s health and wellness advocacies, and programs on women, children, and depressed communities.
Jaojoco said his wife finished her nursing studies in the United States. She also studied at St. Scholastica’s Academy for her elementary and secondary years.
If this tandem will push through in Toboso, it will be less headache for Love Negros and UNEgA, with a possible clash among members of the two political groups taking place in Isabela, UnegA secretary general, Salvador Escalante Jr., earlier said. Escalante said that Vice-Mayor Renato Malabor Jr. is challenging the incumbent, Irene Montilla, for the mayoralty race, while a status quo in other towns and cities of Negros Occidental is possible.*