By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, who previously expressed feeling threatened by political rivals, said his close ally, former Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, has every right to return to public office.
“If he decides to reenter politics, he has every right to do so. In politics, individuals are free to run for any position they choose,” Treñas said on Tuesday, Sept. 10, after Mabilog’s return to the Philippines following seven years of self-imposed exile in the United States.
In mid-August, Treñas acknowledged feeling threatened by any political rival, including the possibility of Mabilog running against him.
“I can’t do anything about it. I feel threatened by all our opponents. We’ll see what we can do,” he said.
Treñas expressed willingness to run alongside Mabilog in the upcoming midterm elections, stating, “It would be better if Jed runs with me.”
However, he added that he would respect Mabilog’s decision if he chose to align with Iloilo City’s lone district Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda instead.
“It depends on him. Politics is a personal choice. There’s nothing we can do if someone chooses differently,” Treñas emphasized.
Treñas and Baronda, who are both in their second terms, have yet to announce their plans for the 2025 midterm elections.
The two severed their political alliance after Treñas accused Baronda of betrayal, claiming she had fielded her own candidates for the upcoming elections.
Treñas and Mabilog share a long-standing political alliance. They ran on the same slate, with Treñas as congressman and Mabilog as mayor, winning their races in 2010, 2013, and 2016.
In an exclusive interview with ANC’s Headstart, Mabilog said he has no plans to return to politics for now.
His priority is to clear his name from allegations made by former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016, accusing him of being a drug protector.
Duterte’s accusations and threats against Mabilog prompted the former mayor to go into hiding with his family in 2017.
Treñas, who was serving as congressman during Duterte’s presidency, admitted he did not help Mabilog clear his name, stating he had no access to Duterte or his allies.
He pointed out that Baronda, then the chief political officer for Senator JV Ejercito, had closer ties to the Duterte administration and was in a better position to assist.
Mabilog’s wife, Marivic, had thanked Baronda in a Facebook post following Mabilog’s return to the country.
“Truth be told, I must not forget to mention that on that fateful night of August 28, there was one steadfast friend who stayed with me and Nathan until we were safely out of the country: Jam Baronda,” she wrote.
However, about 30 minutes later, Marivic edited the post, removing Baronda’s special mention.
