Treñas keeps mum on political plans
City Mayor Jerry Treñas merely kept his silence after reports came out that a signature drive is being conducted by a certain group to push him to run for congressman in the 2010 elections. Treñas, who is on his last term as city mayor, has yet to make an official statement about his political plan.
Reportedly, a group is pushing Treñas to run for congressman against incumbent Representative Raul Gonzalez Jr. Folders bearing the markings “USWAG Iloilo” are being circulated in the city’s different barangays for signatures.
Treñas flew to Germany for an official business without any word as regards the signature drive.
Treñas was counting on the approval of the proposed bill on the Redistricting of Iloilo City so that his association with the Gonzalezes will remain intact.
However, nothing new was heard about the proposed bill as the Senate will have to take their recess. No less than Senator Noynoy Aquino, chair of the committee on local government, expressed opposition to the redistricting bill authored by the younger Gonzalez.
A source belonging to the Gonzalez camp said, the stalemate at the Senate on the proposed bill will divide the Gonzalez-Treñas group should the outgoing mayor seeks for higher elective post which is the congressional post. Raul Jr. still has one remaining term as congressman.
Treñas and the Gonzalezes belong to the same political party during the last election.
For Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Raul Gonzalez Sr, the reported signature campaign is a “black propaganda” orchestrated by Vice Mayor Jed Mabilog.
Mabilog will run as mayor of the city against Gonzalez Sr.. He will make a final announcement of his mayoralty plan on September 28.
Gonzalez said the reported signature campaign was meant to sow intrigue between the Treñas and Gonzalez camp. He hinted Mabilog has no word since he has offered the vice mayoralty posts to several people.
Gonzalez said he has already talked with Treñas. He refused to give details on what they have discussed. Treñas would be back at the end of the month. He will probably make a statement as soon as he returns from his trip.
On his part, Mabilog said Treñas should not keep the people hanging. He should make announcements in order for other people to make a choice in the future. It is hard to decide when one has already made a commitment.
Mabilog said there are people who are getting impatient on what is the plan of Treñas. It might create a setback to those politicians who are counting on Treñas.