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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – A group of businessmen is purportedly backing the possible candidacy for city mayor of Iloilo Provincial Administrator Raul Banias in 2019.
Banias is a resident of Concepcion, Iloilo but owns a house in this city and has been living in the metro for over 20 years now.
When he was asked about this group of businessmen supposedly backing him up, Banias courtly replied: “I do not say yes, I don’t say no…We will see. Katulad man ni Governor (Arthur Defensor Sr.), never say no anay. Tan-awon ta ang sitwasyon.”
The 2019 election is 29 months away.
Last week, Iloilo City’s Cong. Jerry Treñas announced he would be quitting politics by 2019. He then endorsed his brother-in-law Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III for mayor and Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog for congressman.
“Kon wala ka sang kontra ti ngaa abi indi ka magdalagan? Kung may kontra ka, i-assess mo man ang kontra mo basi indi ka kasarang,” Banias told capitol reporters.
Banias is a registered voter and resident of Concepcion, Iloilo. He served as mayor of the northern coastal municipality from 1998 to 2007. But nothing also bars him from switching residences or transferring his voter’s registration.
“Kon madalagan ako mayor, sa banwa ko guro,” said Banias, a doctor by profession, when pressed about the possibility of him running for an elective post.
Banias served as Presidential Assistant for Western Visayas of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In 2010 Defensor picked him as provincial administrator and continued serving in that capacity up to now.
There also rumors about businessman Jojo Ang running for congressman in the city in tandem with Banias for mayor.
Banias said nobody talked to him about running for city mayor but recalled several business groups pressing him to run for a provincial elective post during the 2010 and 2013 elections.
“But during those election seasons, I was quite firm nga wala ako interes sa pulitika,” said Banias.
In the run-up to the May 2016 elections, Banias was rumored to be running for vice governor in tandem with Defensor Sr. following then Vice Gov. Raul Tupas’ announcement that he was not seeking reelection but instead aiming the congressional post in the 5th District./PN
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