Rep. Treñas has the final say – Lex

FORMER City Councilor Nielex “Lex” Tupas said no less than Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas should announce his congressional bet for the 2019 elections.

Tupas has been touted as one of Treñas’ bets for the lone district seat when the latter runs for mayor next year.

But on Sept 8, former councilor Julienne “Jam-Jam” Baronda announced that she has finally decided to run for congressman in tandem with the graduating congressman.

“We should give that leeway to choose and make the declaration to Rep. Treñas,” Tupas said.

The former councilor was also rumored to be in the lineup of Mayor Jose Espinosa III who is also running for mayor against Treñas, who is his bilas or brother-in-law (their wives are sisters).

While he has yet to finally decide on which candidate to support, Tupas said he has been talking only to Treñas since last year

“Mayor Joe is a good friend to me and to my wife (Councilor Candice Tupas). But we never discussed about politics. And it has been my practice that in politics, I do not base my support on personalities, rather, on a common vision, common intention, and common direction,” Tupas said.

He refrained from answering when asked if will accept if ever Espinosa offers him the congressional slot.

But Tupas recognized that he needs to make the decision sooner as he is pressed for time as the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) is on Oct 11-17.

“Let us see the final outcome and the final lineup in the next two weeks,” he said.

He also stressed that if he decides to go back to politics, he will run for congressman, not vice mayor.

Aside from public service, he said he has a “very good option in the private sector.”

SOURCE: The Daily Guardian

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