THE LAST time we talked to Cong. Jerry P. Treñas, he said he was not giving up hope that his three-decade political ally and bilas, Mayor Jose Espinosa III, would run in tandem with him in 2019.
This could only come to fruition, however, if the mayor agrees to exchange position with the three-termer congressman, who is barred by law from running for a fourth straight term. So far, however, Espinosa is adamant. He once self-deprecated with a joke that he could not move up to the House of Representatives because it’s only for the “maalam” (intelligent).
There was also a time when we reminded Espinosa about the congressman’s reconciliatory intention. To which he retorted, looking back to a day in December 2016, “It was he who vowed to quit politics and to support me for mayor.”
Joe III seemed to imply that had Jerry not made that “quit” claim, there could have been no problem; and that was for the “graduating” congressman to move back to City Hall as mayor and Espinosa (then vice mayor) to move on to the House of Representatives.
Some people would have interpreted the congressman’s “retirement” announcement as indication that he had hit the summit of his three-decade political career – at one time or another as councilor, OIC-mayor, mayor and congressman.
But there were cynics who would not believe him, arguing that even at age 60, as Treñas was in 2016, most politicians quit only in the aftermath of physical disability – as in the case of a city councilor stopped by heart attack.
In fact, this writer consequently wrote a column where I said, “By not running, he would pave the way for a relative by affinity, Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III, to run for mayor. Otherwise, Joe would have a harder time to succeed the congressman, assuming that the ‘graduating’ Mayor Jed Mabilog would likewise run for congressman.”
Of course, Treñas could always rationalize today that the reality obtaining at that time was far different. He and Espinosa were allies of Jed, a “graduating” mayor and no doubt a very strong wannabe for the House of Representatives. Who would have thought that he would get lost to escape the wrath of President Duterte, who had repeatedly tagged him “drug protector”?
Treñas had hoped to pass his bill that would divide Iloilo City into two districts so that both Mabilog and Espinosa could run for congressman without clashing, but to no avail.
With Mabilog out of the equation, nevertheless, there is a way for both Treñas and Espinosa to run together and not against each other.
Naturally their common supporters abhor their impending rivalry. Why should one win at the expense of the other, or risk attracting a third contender who could topple them both?
The forthcoming October – the month in which to file certificates of candidacy – is decision month for politicians who intend to run in 2019. Each decision will be based on certain grounds, such as the direction to which an honest-to-goodness political survey is headed. Whoever lags behind the survey would probably give way to the other.
Much more than that is the time-honored saying, “Blood is thicker than water.” It is no secret that the wives of the two would-be protagonists – Rosalie Sarabia-Treñas and Gina Sarabia-Espinosa – are sisters, hence would not want to alarm common followers, friends and relatives public into thinking that there is already no love lost between them.
As an old song goes, “Together we stand, divided we fall.” (hvego31@gmail.com/PN)
