Alim vows to give Treñas a good fight
Running for city mayor under the banner of the United Opposition in the May 14 senatorial and local elections is something that he neither planned nor asked for. But now that he was thrust into the unenviable task of unseating Iloilo City mayor Jerry Treñas, he's determined to make a good run for the City Hall's top post. In fact, he's already into the fight only days after securing the opposition group's endorsement for the said position, answering a tirade thrown his way by the incumbent mayor.
"Mayor Treñas shouldn't be underestimating me or any political opponent for that matter. He shouldn't be condescending, egging me to run against him by saying, 'Run, Joshua, Run,' after he was told of my plans to seek the mayoralty position in the coming elections. For all he knows, I might outrun him in the race and he could end up the loser," said the former three-termer city councilor in an interview recently.
"You see, in politics, nothing is guaranteed. Indi s'ya makahambal nga madaug na s'ya [He can't say for sure he'll win] because the elections is still two months away. Madamo pa sang matabo [Many things can still happen] in the next several weeks before May 14, and it would be stupid to be taking his opponents lightly," Alim further quipped.
Asked whether he is daunted by the overwhelming superiority of the incumbent Treñas in terms of machinery and logistics, the former city legislator said while he admits the mayor may enjoy distinct advantages over him, he's not at all worried by all these.
"Wala ako 'ya nahadlok sa ginasiling nga makinarya kag resources sang ila grupo [I'm not daunted at all by the perceived machinery and resources of their group]. I always believed the people of the city of Iloilo vote not according to the candidates' political machinery and campaign funds; they vote according to their conscience. That is why I believe I would emerge the victor in the May 14 elections--because I have the heart for the poor, which makes up majority of the residents of the city," said Alim.
"I am running on a platform of principled politics. We want to get rid of money politics because that's precisely what's preventing capable leaders from running for public office. It's time we junk money politics and support candidates that may not have the money to buy votes but has the sincerity to serve the people with the best of their abilities," he further quipped.
Running alongside Alim for the city's lone district seat in Congress is former three-termer mayor Mansueto "Mansing" Malabor while 'graduating' councilor Erlinda Liberiaga is the group's vice-mayoral candidate. Leading their councilor slate, meanwhile, is reelectionist councilor Perla Zulueta, former vice-mayor Victor Facultad, former councilor Rolando Dabao, and Lex Tupas, son of Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas, Sr.