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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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Monday, April 3, 2017
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MANILA – With a tattered reputation due to President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug allegation, will Iloilo City’s Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog run for congressman in the 2019 midterm elections? Will he quit politics?
He was praying for “divine intervention”, the mayor told Panay News.
Now in his third consecutive term as mayor, Mabilog is barred by law from seeking a fourth term. A lot of things, however, are currently preoccupying the mayor’s mind.
For one, he still has to repair his reputation damaged by President Duterte’s tagging of him as a protector of illegal drugs although this allegation remains unsubstantiated.
“Prayers lang. (I am seeking) God’s will first. Layo pa ang 2019,” said the mayor.
Mabilog also admitted his administration are still trying to solve perennial problems in Iloilo City such as the constant flooding, traffic congestion and even water supply and distribution.
For the moment, politics is “farthest from my priorities”, said Mabilog.
But he may announce his plans next year, he added.
“Patapuson ta lang ang 2017 then we will decide,” Mabilog said.
The mayor recently told this paper he would be writing the President to deny being a drug coddler. He was alarmed by the President’s repeated allegation.
A Senate source told Panay News a senator from Luzon close both to the President and Mabilog offered to arrange a meeting between the two but Duterte thumbed down the idea.
Mabilog also told Panay News his political ties with Cong. Jerry Treñas remains strong and the two will continue to be allies in 2019.
The statement opened the possibility of Treñas running for an elective post in 2019 – in tandem with Mabilog – even if the congressman announced late last year that he would be quitting politics after he completes his third consecutive term in Congress.
In an interview January last year, however, Treñas told Panay News he would like to run for mayor of Iloilo City anew in 2019. He served as city mayor from 2001 to 2010.
Last Dec. 2, 2016 he endorsed Mabilog as the next congressman and Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III as the next mayor.
But the congressman has not publicly defended Mabilog against the President’s drug allegations.
Councilor Joshua Alim, estranged political ally of both Mabilog and Treñas, warned the city mayor. He said the congressman’s December announcement could be a trick to lure Mabilog into complacency leading to the 2019 elections.
If Treñas runs for mayor, three-termer Vice Mayor Espinosa – his brother-in-law – will likely run for congressman. Alim’s take on this scenario is: “This means he (Mabilog) will be squaring off with Espinosa. (Treñas) will surely support his bilas Espinosa or there would be trouble between their wives.”
Treñas’ wife Rosalie is a sister of Espinosa’s wife Gina.
Mabilog refused to speculate. On his possible congressional bid, he said, “I am praying for it pa. (God’s) will be done.”
In a radio interview late last year, Mabilog said his 2017 New Year resolution would be to give more time to spiritual matters.
“Ang New Year’s resolution ko is for me to find time para sa aton Ginoo because amo na ang wala ko gid natagaan attention; 2016 was the year nga nakilala ko ang Ginoo,” said Mabilog.
The month of August 2016 was a “challenge”, said Mabilog.
It was in Aug. 7 last year when the President first accused Mabilog of being a drug coddler. He repeated this assertion four more times, the latest of which was just last month during a dinner at the Palace with senators belonging to the majority bloc./PN
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