Treñas to take oath with NP, Tupas joins his line up
City Mayor Jerry Treñas yesterday confirmed that he is set to take his oath with the Nacionalista Party (NP) of Senator Manny Villar tomorrow (Nov. 21). The details of the oath taking ceremony which will be done here are still under wraps.
Treñas was not among those invited in yesterday’s national convention of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). He is among the high profile officials of the Lakas party who has bolted to join a new group. He is formerly the executive director of Lakas.
His defection to other political party was already anticipated when he declared his intention of running for congressman against incumbent Congressman Raul Gonzalez Jr.
Gonzalez, being the incumbent congressman, enjoys the equity of the incumbent policy of the party. Needless to say, the solon’s father Presidential Legal Counsel Raul Gonzalez Sr. also occupies a top position in the Lakas-Kampi-CMD. The elder Gonzalez is Lakas’s vice president for the Visayas.
Along with Treñas, Councilor Jose Espinosa III will also take oath with the NP. Espinosa, also a former Lakas member, is Treñas’s bet for the vice mayoral post.
Earlier, there were talks of a possible merger between the group of Treñas and Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog but it was stalled after Treñas endorsed a different vice mayoralty bet than that being endorsed by the Mabilog group.
Treñas admitted it is difficult for him to join forces with Mabilog. The issue on the vice mayoral bet of the group is something that is hard to resolve. However, he said “in politics everything is possible.”
Treñas said “politics is the art of all possible.” A politician has to resolve the issue even in the midst of problems haunting the alliances. He is also non-committal on forging and alliance with Presidential Assistant on Water Larry Jamora who also eyes the mayoralty post.
In a related development, Treñas confirmed Councilor Lex Tupas will join his ticket. Tupas of the Liberal Party will seek reelection as councilor in May 2010 elections. Earlier, Tupas said he is willing to reconsider his plan in running as vice mayor if it is for the good of his party and the entire Ilonggos.
Tupas, who is on his first term as councilor is very vocal of his support to Treñas and Mabilog. He believes in the capacity of the mayor to become the congressman of the city.
Tupas’s absence when Baronda made her pronouncement in running for vice mayor Wednesday already caught the attention of those attending the affair. It created a speculation on what group he will join.
Previously, Mabilog, Baronda and Tupas were often seen in public. They were even called the Three Musketeers. Shirts printed with names of Mabilog, Baronda and Tupas were proofs of their friendship.
