Hole of Justice
by Peter G. JimeneaEvery time Sec. Raul Gonzalez visits Iloilo City, Cong. Jerry Trenas becomes a paranoid. Whether he admits or denies it, the truth remains that he is closely monitoring the movement of the man who is once his benefactor.
As a matter of fact, after the secretary left for Manila, he immediately summoned the barangay captains who reportedly took time to see the grand old man. Worse, those he believes already his domesticated political animals are even reprimanded on why they were there in a meeting with Sec. Gonzalez.
The will to nip the Gonzalezes’ resurgence in the local political arena stinks. But it is also precipitated by the declining alliance between him and Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog. Despite the latter’s announcement of untainted relationship between them, the aura of suspicion is still in the air.
Cong. Trenas has already learned that there is less “manna” in the Lower House of Congress compared to a local chief executive. When then a city mayor, Trenas has tasted the simulated thrill of spending millions at his discretion. He is a little president who personifies the law of the community, bearable or miserable.
This is what got him so excited to reclaim and rule once again the kingdom he left behind to a subject in Jed Mabilog. In fact, it was during his reign that he was able to save a family so closed to his heart from the shame of bankruptcy. This is now his obsession to return that made him irrational and no longer open to negotiation.
But Mayor Mabilog had said that a one- term would not suffice to improve Iloilo City he is so proud of. The mayor thus far has shown he is a man – hinting a grim possibility of backing-out from his post. But we know that in last elections, it was the political machinery of Trenas which delivered his victory.
The trend, however, changed a lot. Mabilog is a working mayor and the people now understand the big difference between the working and the studying mayor. What’s more, Mayor Mabilog is not a fool to give a full trust to a comrade widely known for his being ungrateful.
Probably the mayor sees the scenario to be reeking with domino theory. If he has betrayed a benefactor who adopted and made him a respected political figure in the city, why not to the person he believes an expendable subject? Cong. Trenas, Vice Mayor Joe Espinosa and him are bonded by the hearts. But the two have wives related by blood, that’s it.
This is not just an intrigue because unless a third-force enters the political arena to join the fray in 2013 elections, the battle between Trenas and Mabilog for mayor is done. In this scenario, we see the tandem of Trenas for mayor and Espinosa for congressman, leaving Mabilog groping in the dark for a talent who would join him in this battle.
Beside which, Mabilog is uncertain of the loyalty of his present barker Jeffrey Celiz, an original stooge of Trenas, handed down to him for support. Anyone accused of involvement in corrupt deals is expected to put up a strong defense regardless of strategy and in this case, Trenas needs Jeffrey Celiz whom some people in Mabilog camp suspect a DPA (deep penetration agent).
Only the tandem of a perceived third force like the Gonzalez-Jamora-Ynion group can force Trenas and Mabilog to swallow their pride and set aside the ambition of one. In this case, it is believed that Trenas may just opt for reelection in order to keep their grip of the city.
The sad part of the story is for one to lose the opportunity. The three things we can never retrieve in life are; spoken words, time-gone and opportunity. For one obsessed to reclaim his post, this perception is a tragedy. Kamlon the critic even say - goodbye money, very many!
In the event Cong. Trenas decides to run for mayor and Mayor Mabilog won’t agree to run for Congress, this will redound to a political suicide for both of them. This reinforced the saying that in politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies – only personal interests!
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