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BY HERBERT VEGO
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Tuesday, March 6, 2018
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THIS writer heard Rep. Jerry Rep. Jerry Treñas (Iloilo City) say on the air that some barangay captains had asked him to run for mayor in 2019, since he could no longer get re-elected due to term limitation. He did not say he would really run though.
Anyway, so what if he is running for mayor? There is nothing in the Constitution that prohibits an outgoing congressman from seeking another post. If, as his critics insinuate, his constituents already dislike him because of “greed for power” or whatever misdeeds he has done, why not let them junk him like a hot potato in 2019? Let the people – not any politician, political analyst, journalist or radio commentator – decide!
This corner confirms having heard Treñas say on the air that after “graduation” from the House of Representatives in 2019, he would not seek another public office. Would deviating from “quitting politics” be a transgression of that vow? To deviate from that intention, there must be a reason; we’d like to know why.
Isumbong kay Digong? Oh no! That would boomerang, akin to reminding President Duterte he had broken his own promise. Remember when in 2015 he told the media he would not run for the 2016 presidential election? But he ran and won. Therefore he would likely quote the cliché, “Only fools do not change their mind.”
Anyway, to rewind, it was in December 2016 when Treñas, 61, told the Iloilo media he would quit politics. Having been councilor, mayor and congressman in the past two decades, “I want to enjoy the time left with my loved ones.”
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens,” he quoted the Bible (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
In fact, by then even his wife Rosalie had “retired” by handing over to their children the responsibility of taking care of the family business collectively known as the RJT Group of Companies, which comprises Carlo’s Bakeshop, Ang Kamalig and Wild Bamboo restaurants.
Then too, Treñas’ political ally Jed Mabilog, the outgoing mayor, was naturally thinking of running for congressman; and his bilas Joe Espinosa III (husband of his wife’s sister), then vice mayor, would aspire to step up to the next rung. And so Treñas’ had to quit to give way to Espinosa.
But that is no longer the political clime today with Mabilog out of the picture – having been dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman, whether rightly or wrongly due to unexplained wealth. Espinosa, now acting mayor by succession, could either run for mayor or congressman. If he opts to run for the latter by family consensus – which is what I think because the two have never caused each other trouble – then their combined political strength would be synergistic. It is impossible for the Espinosa-Treñas tandem to materialize should the former run for mayor because the latter could no longer run for congressman.
Not having found the opportunity to directly interview the congressman, I asked a barangay captain yesterday just one question: “Why do you want Treñas to be next mayor.”
“He had been three-term mayor [2001-2010] with excellent track record,” the barangay official answered, enumerating such giant projects as the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, the Iloilo River Development Plan, the Circumferential Road, Radial Road, Flood Control Project, the Economic Master Plan, Land Banking, the Lanit and San Isidro relocation sites for the urban poor.
But of course, it’s not for the supposedly apolitical barangay officials to decide for JPT, a lawyer who should think for himself. (hvego31@gmail.com/PN)
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