Treñas-Mabilog join forces but with opposing vice mayoralty bets
After several delays, Mayor Jerry Treñas and Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog finally declared their local alliance though they have separate candidates for vice mayor.
Treñas and Mabilog formally announced their coalition yesterday in the presence of former vice mayor Guillermo de la Llana and members of the media.
Treñas just took his oath as city chair of the Nacionalista Party (NP) and Mabilog will take his oath today with the Liberal Party (LP). Both are former members of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD party. They defected from their original political party to pursue their own political ambitions.
Treñas and Mabilog said that they have a common vision which is to make Iloilo City as premiere city in 2015.
Treñas will run for congressman against incumbent Representative Raul Gonzalez Jr. It was learned that former Congressman Rafael Lopez-Vito will also join the congressional race.
While, Mabilog will run against presidential legal counsel Raul Gonzalez Sr, and Presidential Assistant on Water Larry Jamora.
Treñas said he is giving his support to Mabilog as his mayoralty bet while he is also campaigning for the candidacy of Councilor Jose Espinosa III, his “bilas”, for vice mayor. He sees no problem with him and Mabilog having different candidates for the vice mayoralty race.
He said “politics is the art of all possible.” Things will work out right between him and Mabilog’s group though they are supporting two distinct candidates. “It will fire up the minds of political analysts here,” Treñas quipped.
The issue on whether the coalition will work out or not is only being floated by their political opponent. “Let the other groups worry about their problem and let us worry our own problems. The Triple J team up is the best solution for us,” said Treñas.
The people are free to choose between the Jerry-Jed-Joe or Jerry-Jed-Jam tandem. They want a triple J tandem, and now it is already available, said Treñas.
Treñas admitted the length of time in deciding whether to run or not in the congressional race has created a difficult situation between him and Mabilog’s camp. It’s a situation that it could no longer be resolved. “It takes an astute politician to understand.”
He said the mechanics on how they will work in such arrangement is on the ground. There is nothing to worry on their merger. They (Mabilog) have no candidate for congressman while his group will not also field their mayoralty bet against Mabilog.
On his part, Mabilog also said he will campaign for Councilor Julienne Baronda as his vice mayoralty candidate. He considered the merger much more important in continuing the city’s development.
He said he has already a clearance with the LP before merging his forces with the Treñas camp. Mabilog said he will campaign for the presidential candidacy of LP standard bearer Senator Noynoy Aquino.
