Eye Opener
Treñas, Mabilog versus the Gonzalezes
The sensational political battle now looms in Iloilo City with City Mayor Jerry Treñas announcing his congressional candidacy for the lone district of Iloilo City. With Treñas breaking away from the administration party, his chances of winning the congressional district in Iloilo City is but a foregone conclusion. Iloilo City is traditionally an opposition city and the voters are intelligent except those who sell their votes on election day. These vote sellers are not only damned by society but by the Almighty God. For God abhors dishonest voters who sell their votes for a few pesos and later suffer the consequences of the corrupt politicians who ransack the coffers of the government.
Treñas, although criticized by city residents as “do nothing” mayor, is still the man to beat. The charismatic and common touch of Jerry, although coming from a rich and influential family, cannot be disregarded. Treñas is always seen mingling with the city voters and barangay captains and he is ready to help the depressed and poor families. Although drivers are not at ease with Mayor Treñas as they said he is unapproachable, yet the masses are behind him as he is a good city administrator.
On one hand, incumbent Raul Gonzalez Jr. is seldom seen by Iloilo City folks mingling with them and knowing their problems. Junior who is a silent doer may still catch up with the popularity of Mayor Treñas as the incumbent congressman is heavily backed up by his father Raul Sr. who is widely considered as a mayoralty candidate in the city and very influential with PGMA and has political machinery to back her up against Mayor Treñas and Vice Mayor Mabilog, the considered unbeatable partners in the present political set up. The young Gonzalez has brought a number of public works projects in the city, famous of which is the multi-million flood control in Jaro. But Junior is seldom seen joking with the people unlike Treñas and Mabilog who literally spend the midnight oil with city folks even during calamities.
With father and son armoring themselves to the teeth, Treñas and Mabilog should better watch out for it’s not Santa Claus coming to town but the massive good tidings the Gonzalezes will flood the city district coming election time. Money, no dout, will flow like oil and the Gonzalezes have everything in their command to win the election at all cost.
But the Ilonggos have learned their bitter lesson. They cannot be bought with power and money much more with threat and intimidation now that Treñas and Mabilog have separated with the administration party.
The Treñas and Mabilog political battle against the Gonzalezes is worth watching. Party alignment will have to take place and many barangay captains will choose Treñas-Mabilog or the Gonzalezes. Pin your hopes fellow Ilonggos to the new leaders of Iloilo City who after a decade now, the city has lost her luster as “Queen of the South.”
