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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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MANILA – What political trap?
“At the moment, I don’t know what can change my mind.” That’s Cong. Jerry Treñas of Iloilo City affirming his announcement that he’s quitting politics after his term ends in 2019.
He denied trying to deceive his ally Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog as what the political opposition was trying to paint.
“I am straightforward,” he told Panay News yesterday and stressed he did not have “political training” in laying traps.
Treñas served as Iloilo City mayor for three terms (2001-2004, 2004-2007, 2007-2010). He surprised everyone in 2010 when he ran for congressman against his then political ally Cong. Raul Gonzalez Jr.
Councilor Joshua Alim, estranged political ally of both Mabilog and Treñas, warned the city mayor. He said the congressman’s announcement was only a trick to lure Mabilog into complacency leading to the 2019 elections.
“Please tell them I have given my piece. They really want me to change my difficult decision? Why are they pulling me back when I have already made my decision? Are they even serious?” he told Panay News.
On Dec. 2, the congressman endorsed Mabilog as the next congressman and Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III as the next mayor. Eleven months ago, he told this paper he was running for mayor after his third term in Congress would end.
Treñas said yesterday he was not entertaining “political posturing” from the opposition.
“Wala na ako gani ‘ga entra sa mga political decisions, sila na lang,” he said.
In jest, the congressman said he might run for president of his barangay’s senior citizens’ association.
Treñas told Panay News in January he “always enjoyed being mayor.”
In both 2004 and 2007 polls, Treñas won by a landslide in all city precincts. He is the only mayor of Iloilo City to do so, he said.
“The job is action-oriented and very in touch with people,” the lawyer-congressman said when asked why he was returning to local politics.
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./PN
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