Another political ally drops Treñas

TBN News
Sep 22, 2018
2 min read

ILOILO City – Like Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo, Councilor Liezl Zulueta Salazar, a long-time political ally of Cong. Jerry Treñas, has also decided to leave the congressman’s camp.

She did not want to put Treñas in a difficult situation, according to Salazar who announced yesterday she had decided to join the group of Mayor Jose Espinosa III.

Treñas and Espinosa are both running for mayor in next year’s midterm elections.

Salazar said she was gratified that Espinosa welcomed her to his group.

What forced the two councilors to switch allegiance was the Treñas-initiated “consensus voting” among barangay captains and coordinators on Tuesday. Both failed to make it to the Top 12 possible candidates for councilor of Treñas.

However, another political ally of Treñas, Liga ng mga Barangay city federation president Irene Ong, said the congressman has not yet finalized his candidates for councilor.

The “consensus voting” among barangay captains and coordinators was just one of several consultations the congressman is doing with supporters, said Ong.

“He would be consulting other sectors,” Ong stressed.

Emphasizing that she had always respected the congressman, Salazar said she did not want to put Treñas in a difficult position in which he had to choose between her and the barangay captains who already determined who should be Treñas’ bets for councilor.

“Kay basi bala mahambal sila may consensus na kag amo na ina ang resulta tapos kuhaon man ako gihapon ni Cong. Ti daw kalaw-ay man,” said Salazar.

She also said she had nothing against the barangay captains and Treñas’ barangay coordinators.

Both Salazar and Peñaredondo are seeking reelection. They are members of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) like Treñas. Espinosa, on the other hand, belonged to the Nacionalista Party.

Asked why barangay captains appeared less supportive of Peñaredondo and Salazar, Ong said, “Ang nabal-an ko, kay Kagawad Ed ulihi na sya nagsulod. Ulihi na sya nagpabalo. Pero ang isa (Salazar) wala ko kabalo kon ano ang rason.”

The other day, Peñaredondo expressed disappointment over the “standard” Treñas used to determine candidates for councilor.

He reminded Treñas that like the congressman, he, too, was a member of 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.

Here are the results for city councilor of the Treñas-initiated “consensus voting” ranked according the number of votes garnered (highest to lowest):