ILOILO City – Former councilor Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda said she would gladly run as congressional candidate of Cong. Jerry Treñas who is running for mayor in next year’s midterm election.
Baronda, however, said she was hopeful Treñas could patch things up with Mayor Jose Espinosa III.
Treñas wanted Espinosa to be his congressional candidate but the mayor declined.
“I am waiting nga basi pa lang ang maayo nga relasyon sang aton mayor kag congressman ma-patch up,” said Baronda at the recent awarding of Treñas’ Uswag scholarship program beneficiaries who graduated with Latin honors.
Espinosa said he would run for mayor.
“It is not good nga ang duha ka daku nga lider sang syudad, indi magtinamdanay. Dapat mag-ayuhay,” said Baronda.
But in case Treñas would finally offer her the slot, Baronda said she is ready.
“Handa kita magbulig kag magpapili sa pagka-congressman under sa iya liderato,” she stressed.
Baronda, a friend of both Treñas and Espinosa, said she was optimistic Treñas and Espinosa would reconcile.
“I believe in miracles,” she said.
Treñas previously said two possible alternatives to Espinosa as his congressional candidate were Baronda and former councilor Nielex Tupas.
Tupas said last week he would be announcing his “biggest political decision” in August, two months before the filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2019 polls.
The former three-termer councilor (2007-2010; 2010-2013; 2013-2016) admitted considering running for congressman of this southern city, too, in the team of Treñas.
Treñas himself had been actively talking to him about such possibility since last year, according to Tupas.
“He assured me I could do it,” Tupas told Panay News./PN
