ILOILO City – Did Cong. Jerry Treñas see this coming? The mock election he initiated among 160 barangay captains and coordinators forced a long-time political ally, Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo, to leave him.
Peñaredondo announced yesterday he would not support Treñas’ bid for mayor and instead root for Mayor Jose Espinosa III.
With 17 probable candidates for city councilor, Treñas conducted what he called a “consensus voting” on Tuesday to determine the 12 he would possibly be getting. Peñaredondo and Councilor Liezl Joy Zulueta Salazar, both eligible for reelection, failed to make it to the top 12. He was No. 14 while Salazar was No. 15.
“Naigo pa kami (nga mga incumbent) nga paaman. Kon amo na pag estimar sa amon that means we are not welcome (in the group), so we head out,” said Peñaredondo.
He expressed disappointment over the “standard” Treñas used to determine candidates for councilor.
Peñeredondo reminded Treñas that like the congressman, he, too, was a member of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Barangay (PDP-Laban), an incumbent councilor, and hads never been defeated in elections.
“Ipareho nila ako sa mga barangay captains nga madalagan konsehal…seguro iban dira maayo but I don’t think mas maayo pa sila sa amon nga mga incumbent,” said Peñaredondo.
The councilor said his decision to transfer to Espinosa’s camp was final and irrevocable.
“Nagakilala man kita tani sa liderato ni Congressman Treñas. Pero kon ang iya grupo wala man nagakilala sa akon, pasensyahanay na lang,” said Peñaredondo.
Salazar, too, said she won’t be forcing herself to a group that does not welcome her.
She, however, did not say if she would be leaving Treñas’ camp and join Espinosa’s.
“Barangay captains say they do not like me because I’m close to Mayor Joe. That is true. But I was close, too, to Treñas when he was the mayor (2001 to 2010) and to then mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog (2010 to 2017). These mayors trusted me because they knew Eduardo Peñaredondo had no ambition to grab their post. I’m contended being a city councilor,” he said.
Peñaredondo said there was nothing wrong with being supportive of the city mayor, whoever the latter may be.
“Ti karun nagapangimon ang iban kay malapit ko ‘ya kay Mayor Joe. Alangan man awayon ko si Mayor Joe kag indi ko mag-kooperar sa iya kay maayo man sya nga mayor,” he said.
Here are the results for city councilor of the Treñas-initiated “consensus voting” ranked according the number of votes garnered (highest to lowest):
- Councilor Jay Treñas – 171
- Alan Zaldivar – 161
- Councilor Julie Grace Baronda – 158
- Jojo Javellana – 158
- Atty. Rommel Duron – 146
- Rudolph Ganzon – 144
- Councilor Mandrie Malabor – 143
- Gilbert Garcia – 141
- Councilor Ely Estante – 133
- Councilor Armand Parcon – 117
- Councilor Candice Tupas – 102
- former councilor Reyland Hervias – 96
- former councilor Dave Jamora – 89
- Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo – 86
- Councilor Liezl Joy Zulueta Salazar – 82
According to Treñas’ ally Councilor Irene Ong (president of the Liga ng mga Barangay – Iloilo City federation), the congressman would be consulting other sectors before deciding who to include in his line-up.
The filing of certificates of candidacy for the May 2019 midterm elections is next month./PN
