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[av_heading heading=’‘IT COULD BE A TRAP!’ Mabilog warned of Treñas’ poll Trojan horse’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – “Jed please beware…it’s a big trap.” This Facebook post of Councilor Joshua Alim warned Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog of a possible Trojan horse in Cong. Jerry Treñas’ pronouncement that he was quitting politics.
Alim, an estranged political ally of Mabilog and the congressman, believed Treñas’ announcement on Friday was meant to trick the three-termer mayor into complacency leading to the 2019 elections.
“JPT (the initials of Treñas) wants the public to believe he is no longer interested in politics. Hence, JPM (initials of Mabilog) and others politically-inclined to square-off with him in the 2019 elections for mayor and (Vice Mayor Jose) Espinosa for congressman will stop being so aggressive in their cannon of attacks against him,” theorized Alim.
Mabilog, barred from seeking a fourth term as mayor, has the option of running for congressman in 2019.
“Certainly (Treñas) and (his) men will attack while the enemies and allies are ‘sleeping’ then kill them politically,” according to Alim.
Treñas, a three-termer congressman barred from seeking a fourth consecutive term, previously announced he would be running for mayor again in 2019. In this scenario, three-termer Vice Mayor Espinosa – his brother-in-law – will likely run for congressman.
Alim said Treñas would certainly support Espinosa’s congressional bid, not Mabilog’s.
It is in this context, according to Alim, that he believed Treñas’ announcement of quitting politics in 2019 was just a joke if not a hoax.
“Jed please beware…it’s a big trap from your Sir Jerry,” Alim posted on Facebook.
The councilor is currently vacationing with his family in Ireland but is updated with the political developments in the city. He said Treñas knew that if he declared this early his political plans for 2019, this would prompt Mabilog to strengthen his own political fences.
“Mayor (Mabilog) has nowhere to go but Congress…he will be forced to run to clear his name or for vindication purposes. This means he will be squaring off with Espinosa. (Treñas) will surely support his bilas Espinosa or there would be trouble between their wives,” said Alim.
Treñas’ wife Rosalie is a sister of Espinosa’s wife Gina.
Mabilog has to clear his name that President Rodrigo Duterte sullied and a congressional victory in 2019 could help achieve that, theorized Alim.
Duterte linked Mabilog to illegal drugs in August this year.
In an exclusive interview with Panay News in January this year, Treñas confirmed plotting a return to local politics in 2019. He said he would run for mayor when he completes his third term in Congress.
“I have always enjoyed being mayor,” Treñas told Panay News.
The Ilonggo solon served as Iloilo City mayor for three terms – from 2001 to 2010.
In both 2004 and 2007 polls, Treñas won by a landslide in all city precincts.
He is the only mayor of Iloilo City to do so, he proudly said.
“The job is action-oriented and very in touch with people,” the lawyer-congressman said when asked why he was returning to local politics.
“Remember that?” said Alim. “Now he is singing a different tune. Sorry, it’s out of tune, guys.”
In fact, according to Alim, “a transition team is being organized now by the no less than the allies of the city mayor in case the latter will be ousted from office.”
The Department of Interior and Local Government is currently investigating Mabilog for alleged links to illegal drugs.
But while he suspected a Trojan horse in Treñas’ announcement, Alim also gave the congressman the benefit of the doubt.
“On the other hand, if it is indeed true, perhaps the gentleman is simply anticipating more Ombudsman cases…or perhaps the good congressman cannot clearly explain to the people of Iloilo City why despite of all his road and drainage projects, Iloilo City is still always flooded,” he said./PN
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