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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Friday. September 22, 2017
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ILOILO City – Cong. Jerry Treñas thanked Sen. Franklin Drilon for expressing support but reiterated once again that he won’t run for mayor in the 2019 elections.
He would definitely retire from politics after his final term as congressman ends in 2019 and his decision stays, stressed Treñas.
“I’ve been saying this since December last year. I won’t change my mind,” he insisted.
After announcing he was quitting politics, Treñas endorsed Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog for congressman and Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III for mayor.
Treñas’ political career started 31 years ago, in 1986.
“Para sa akon, tiempo naman sang mga bag-o. Buligan ta lang sila,” Treñas told Panay News.
He wished Mabilog, currently on sick leave in an undisclosed location abroad, well.
“Kabay pa masolbar ‘ya iya problema,” said Treñas.
He denied he was trying to deceive Mabilog by announcing he was quitting politics in 2019.
If Treñas runs for mayor, three-termer Vice Mayor Espinosa – his brother-in-law – will likely run for congressman and clash against Mabilog.
Treñas told this paper in January 2016 he “always enjoyed being mayor.” The job was “action-oriented” and “very in touch with people,” the lawyer-congressman explained.
Drilon, a cousin of Mabilog, said he would support Treñas should the latter run for mayor in the 2019 midterm elections.
President Rodrigo Duterte tagged Mabilog a drug coddler and ordered a lifestyle check on him.
Treñas has never issued a public statement unequivocally expressing support to his beleaguered political ally but the congressman said his silence did not mean he was not helping his friend.
“I do not have to announce what I have been doing. I’m doing everything and Mayor Jed knows this,” said Treñas without elaborating.
Treñas is in his third and final consecutive term as congressman. He is barred by law from seeking a fourth consecutive term.
Treñas and Mabilog used to belong to the Liberal Party but weeks after Duterte won the 2016 presidential election, the congressman jumped to the President’s Partido Demokatiko Pilipno – Lakas ng Bayan.
In both 2004 and 2007 elections, Treñas won by a landslide in all city precincts. He is the only mayor of Iloilo City to do so, he said./PN
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