And so, Mayor Jerry Treñas has declared he is running for congressman of Iloilo City, challenging not only the reign of Rep. Raul Gonzalez Jr. but also the political strength of the self-proclaimed King of Iloilo, Presidential Legal Counsel Raul Gonzalez Sr. This signals the break-up of the Gonzalez-Treñas group, therefore altering political alignments in the city. So far though, Treñas has no mayoralty candidate yet while his brother-in-law, Councilor Jose Espinosa III, is widely believed to be his slate’s bet for vice mayor.

The Treñas’ declaration brought to four the number of political groupings in the city, which include the Gonzalez Sr/Jr team (no candidate for vice mayor yet), Larry Jamora (no candidates for congressman and vice mayor yet), the Jed Mabilog-Julliene Baronda tandem (no candidate for congressman yet) and the Treñas-Espinosa group (no candidate for mayor yet). For sure, there will be no changes as far as the Gonzalez team is concerned – the son is seeking reelection and the father is gunning for the mayorship, with either Councilors Antonio Pesina or Eldrid Antiquera as possible running-mates. No miracle can alter the father and son’s resolve to assert their might over Iloilo City.

After severing his ties with the Gonzalezes, all eyes are now focused on Treñas and a possible alliance with Jamora, the Presidential Adviser on Waters. A Treñas-Jamora-Espinosa team is very probable because Treñas appears to be cold on Mabilog considering the animosity between the mayor and some councilors identified with the vice mayor. Treñas and Baronda, Mabilog’s fellow Mang Inasal model, had even traded cutting remarks over the implementation of the city anti-smoking ordinance. Likewise, Mabilog has already committed to pick Baronda as his running-mate and a Treñas-Mabilog-Baronda ticket could just mean Espinosa’s displacement. That can never happen. Espinosa is married to the former Gina Sarabia, sister of the city’s First Lady, Rosalie.

On the other hand, Jamora has no congressional and vice mayoralty candidates yet, although his close ally – former Mayor Mansueto Malabor – is said to be interested of running for congressman. If Treñas teams up with Jamora, the latter can talk it out with Malabor to give way to Treñas. And in case former Rep. Rafael Lopez-Vito runs for the same post too, Jamora can also dissuade his good friend to instead help him boost Treñas’ candidacy against Raul Jr. Jamora’s rising popularity could also soar further if he teams up with Treñas.

So who’s going to be Mabilog’s candidate for congressman if Treñas won’t team up with him? There are two choices – Councilor Lex Tupas and former Councilor Benjie Gengos – which, of course, would mean Mabilog will now be joining the Liberal Party. Both Tupas and Gengos are very close to former Senator Franklin Drilon, the LP chief in the city. But shrewd that he is, Tupas may just seek re-election and ensure his victory rather than gamble on a three-cornered fight where his chance of winning is so slim. If he runs for vice mayor instead, he will displace Baronda and will just expose Mabilog’s political parasitism.

Gengos, on the other hand, is a known Drilon minion who was largely blamed for the disintegration of the opposition group in 2007, resulting to the re-election of Raul Jr. in Congress. Had the opposition fielded only one candidate during that race, Raul Jr. could have been defeated disgracefully. In fact, Drilon was the top choice against the young Gonzalez then, as he was no longer eligible to run for the Senate, having served three full terms already. But for reasons only he knows, he instead insisted that Gengos should run, and so Gengos did. Both Gengos and Malabor, the other candidate, lost. This time, Gengos will surely run again if Drilon wants him to.

Meanwhile, combining the organizational strengths of the Treñas-Espinosa and the Jamora-Malabor groups would be a force to reckon with come 2010. Gonzalez Sr/Jr may still have the money but their organization is now in disarray because the elder Gonzalez has no clout anymore and he could no longer pressure barangay captains into siding with him. He had been replaced as Secretary of Justice and was given the token position of Presidential Legal Counsel where he holds office at the Mabini Hall in Malacañang, the building assigned to inconsequential appointees. Worse, his health has already become uncooperative to him. The rigors of the campaign may just exact a heavy toll on his failing kidney.

Raul Jr., for his part, evidently fears a head-on collision with Treñas, reason why he and his father had been desperately pushing to gerrymander Iloilo City to no avail. It could have been a move to make sure the son can easily get re-elected, and reign over the Jaro-Lapaz-Mandurriao area, while Treñas could just enjoy his own City Proper-Molo-Arevalo territory. Raul Sr. was even quoted in a newspaper report as saying that he would sell his soul just to make sure the city is divided into two congressional districts. But what person in his right mind would buy his soul?

Incidentally, Treñas’ proclamation that he is running for congressman was made on a full moon, which feng shui believers consider to be a day of good fortune. But no, Treñas may just find himself unlucky with the Chinese characters around him because of the bad image that they have been giving his administration. In fact, their unscrupulous dealings will surely become the mayor’s political baggage. If Treñas continues to associate himself with these corrupt individuals, he can never harness the power of the moon to his advantage.

In the meantime, Iloilo City voters are waiting for more developments for what will surely be an exciting election come 2010. And as the political cauldron starts to boil and new alignments start to become evident, we are all reminded by the cliché that in politics, there are really no permanent friends, only permanent interests.

2 Responses to “Readings”

• 1
  Lisa
  November 4th, 2009 04:38

  Very interesting. I look forward to more articles like this.
• 2
  Dr. Antonio Gestosani
  November 4th, 2009 21:04

  Very interesting scenario. I’m sure ilonggos will vote wisely this time since this election is for them, their kids and their kid’s kids. The future of your country, cities, towns and barrios are in the tips of your fingers. Vote according to your conscience. This election is all about character of your candidates. And, please, please don ‘t sell your votes.
  Yesterday’s election here in America is the referendum by the american people against the Obama administration of big government and excessive spending. American people spoke, and more republicans got elected.
  If Americans can do it, Filipinos (Ilonggos in particular) can do it also.

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