BY GLENDA TAYONA and IAN PAUL CORDERO
ILOILO City – A voice recording purportedly of Cong. Jerry Treñas speaking before a gathering of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) barangay chairmen has gone viral on social media.
In a privilege speech at the Sangguniang Panlungsod session yesterday, Councilor Plaridel Nava played the voice recording.
“It’s very clear. He can’t deny it’s his voice,” said Nava.
He accused Treñas of meddling in the SK and vowed to file administrative charges against the latter.
Nava said Treñas addressed SK barangay chairpersons during a May 24 “dinner meeting” at the lumberyard of Barangay Captain-elect Irene Ong on Solis Street, City Proper.
According to the councilor, the speech was geared at influencing the SK Iloilo City federation election.
The election was held yesterday. Elected president was Leila Luntao of Barangay Our Lady of Lourdes, Jaro district. Her name was among those listed in an alleged sample ballot tagged “Uswag Team” distributed during the “dinner meeting.”
“I have no politician backer,” said Luntao after her victory. She will sit as ex-officio member in the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
Luntao said she campaigned “district to district” and this was why she won.
But further accusing Treñas, Nava said, “Wala lang s’ya nag-interfere, gin impluwensyahan nya. Nanagtag sample ballots attached with money.”
For the councilor, this was a violation not only of the election law but also of the anti-graft law.
In the voice recording, a man suspected to be Treñas said, “May ari di’ cum laude. May ari medtech, manugdoktor. Amo ‘ni nga mga opisyales, kun hatagan gid man ninyo sang inyo nga hamili nga boto, amo ‘ni sila ang mangin lideres naton sa aton pederasyon sa masunod nga duha ka tuig. Ina kon wala extension.”
The man further said, “…Pangilalahon ta sila para makilala ta gid kon sin-o ‘ni sila. Ikompararar naton kay ti may iban man nga gusto magserbisyo sa aton. Para makapili kita kon sin-o gid.”
Treñas, in a phone interview, confirmed attending a “get-together” of SK barangay chairpersons but denied Nava’s accusation he was trying to influence the SK federation election.
“Waay ko naghambal nga botohon kon sin-o ah,” said Treñas.
He said he only told the SK barangay chairpersons to choose wisely.
Treñas said he had not listened to the voice recording yet.
Nava said he was talking to someone who was present at the meeting to stand as witness against Treñas.
He was also hopeful that the one who made the recording would come out.
Recording a public speech is not a criminal act, said Nava.
Other elected SK Iloilo City federation officials yesterday were the following:
* vice president – Joy Jonathan Pescadera Jr. of Barangay Lapuz Sur, Lapuz
* secretary – Bea Gonzales of Barangay Veterans Village, City Proper
* treasurer – Shane Sayomac of Barangay Taytay Zone II, Jaro
* auditor – Carmelli Jubelag of Barangay Bito-on, Jaro
* public relations officer – Jelma Cristel Implica of Barangay Jereos, La Paz
* sergeant-at-arms – Sherry Ann Villagracia of Barangay Guzman Jesena, Mandurriao
Except for Pescadera, all the winners were in the alleged sample ballot distributed during the May 24 “dinner meeting” at the place of Ong who is said to be Treñas’ candidate for president in the Iloilo City Liga ng mga Barangay federation.
Luntao garnered 93 votes. She defeated Maria Antoinette Gallos, of Barangay Ingore, La Paz (75 votes) and Cliff Omisol of Barangay Bantud, La Paz (6 votes).
The SK Iloilo City federation election was held at Eon Centennial Hotel in Alta Tierra Village, Jaro.
Mayor Jose Espinosa III administered the federation officers’ oath of office after they were proclaimed.
As representative of the youth in the city council, Luntao will be heading the city council committee on youth and sports development, said Atty. Ferdinand Panes, director of the Department of Interior and Local Government – Iloilo City.
“The SK federation president has a big responsibility,” said Panes./PN
