Comback or Payback treñas to bring back trusted allies to city hall

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

FRESH from being proclaimed as new mayor-elect of Iloilo City, lone district Rep. Jerry Treñas announced on Thursday that his trusted allies will make a comeback to some City Hall departments and offices.

Treñas visited the City Hall, particularly the office of the Liga ng Barangay President and Councilor Irene Ong.

In an interview, Treñas named his trusted allies in his past administrations past who will join him in his fresh term starting June 30, 2019.

Treñas named Melchor Tan as city administrator; Butch Panaguiton, assistant city administrator; Jonas Bellosillo, chief of staff; Atty. Edgar Gil, city legal officer; Atty. Quintin Magsico, assistant legal officer; Francis Te, Senior Executive Assistant; Mitch Antiqueña, building administrator; and Roy Firmeza, Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office (ICUPAO) head.

As executive assistants, Treñas named Efren Paredes for barangay affairs, Rudiver Jungco for sports, Benito Jimena for tourism, Katherine Tingson for revenue generation, Salvador Sarabia Jr. for (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) MICE promotions, Dr. Sandra Gomez as liaison for the private sector, and Charlie Hofelina and Arman Dayrit for the environment.

Treñas said he wanted to “hit the ground running” as soon as he assumes office noontime of June 30.

“I’ve been meeting with department heads, since two days ago, we want to hit ground running. We have a lot of program and projects na ginapreparahan naton,” he said.

While he will give some current city hall officials the chance to exit gracefully, Treñas said he will be filing cases against some of them.

“You know, I don’t want to actually say it. But they have the chance to exit gracefully. Otherwise, we will be filing cases of immorality, graft and corruption and electioneering. They know who they are,” he said.

Meanwhile, the mayor elect said it will take time before he reconciles with his brother-in-law, Mayor Jose Espinosa III.

“I am a product of the experience that I have suffered under them. Patyan ka suga, kakason tawo, and then you say reconcillation. You tell it to the marines. Ang reconciliation hatagan ta dyutay tiyempo kay wala pa napali ang pilas,” he said.

In a separate interview Espinosa said Treñas is welcome to visit his office.

“This is a public office, everyone is welcome sa city hall, okay lang man na, biskan maghapit siya sa akon. I can actually tour him to familiarize him with the office of the mayor,” he said.

Espinosa said now is the time to move on especially that the elections have already concluded.

“Ang election tapos na, ang pulitika may time, tapos na, pultika should be behind, we should move on. Wounds heals kag te ang pamulitika. We only have one city, we have to serve our people,” he added.

As regards to City Hall officials with co-terminus tenures, Espinosa said they will be covered by the Civil Service Rules.

“It is his call, but these people will be covered by Civil Service Rules. I did not ask anyone to campaign for me,” he said.

Meanwhile, a transition team headed by Espinosa is already in place through Executive Order No. 22-A.

Based on the EO, the transition team will include all department heads of the city hall, Atty. Ferdinand Panes of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Ramon Cua Locsin, president of the Iloilo Federation of Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Panay.

The team will inventory identified properties of the local government unit (LGU) and gather, secure, and preserve all official documents and or record of the LGU.

They will also turn over accountabilities and ensure the accomplishment and timely submission of Elective Local Official Personnel Data Sheet (ELOPDS) by the incoming officials.