Familiar Faces in A New Race

As the 2025 midterm elections draw near, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has already started forming his political slate, signaling the onset of another familiar race with familiar names.

The absence of Public Safety Office head Jeck Conlu, following his resignation, has left a vacancy that Treñas was quick to address by offering a councilor position to his brother-in-law, former Mayor Jose “Joe” Espinosa III.

While Espinosa has yet to accept the offer, his potential return to Treñas’ slate suggests a mending of their severe political rift, which has persisted since their bitter clash in the 2019 mayoral race.

However, Espinosa’s silence on accepting Treñas’ offer, and Congresswoman Jam Baronda’s quiet deliberations about her own political future, add a layer of uncertainty to Iloilo’s upcoming elections. Baronda’s public movements point to a potential third and final run for her seat, but her lack of confirmation has kept political observers guessing.

For Treñas, the political chessboard seems well-strategized. His slate appears to be taking shape without significant gaps, despite the withdrawal of Conlu, who led the city’s Public Order and Safety Management Office.

However, uncertainty surrounds some of his former allies. One such enigma is former Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who recently returned to Iloilo after seven years in exile, upon the initiative of Baronda.

While Treñas has publicly ruled out a position for Mabilog in his lineup, he hasn’t dismissed the possibility of facing the former mayor as an opponent in the upcoming elections as Mabilog could endorse Baronda or decide to run independently.

With Mabilog’s return and possible endorsement of Baronda, the dynamics could shift quickly, complicating Treñas’s already delicate alliances. Despite their political fallout, Treñas remains pragmatic, acknowledging the potential strength of both Mabilog and Baronda.

Despite past alliances, the political rivalry between Treñas and Baronda could once again reshape the city’s electoral landscape.

Political watchers in Iloilo City are no strangers to this familiar set of players—Treñas, Espinosa, Baronda, and Mabilog have been recurring names in the city’s elections for years. The question is whether fresh faces will emerge, or if the same family dynasties will continue to control the local political scene.

The upcoming elections in Iloilo City may bring familiar faces back into the fray, but what remains crucial is how these seasoned politicians will use their experience to serve the city’s evolving needs.

For the Ilonggo electorate, the stakes are high. These elections, more than a mere clash of political personalities, must be about the city’s future. The residents of Iloilo City deserve leaders who prioritize the public welfare over personal power plays. As campaigns take shape, voters will need to sift through the noise of political alliances and feuds to determine which candidates offer genuine progress and development for the city.

At the end of the day, the real decision lies with the Ilonggos, whose welfare should be at the heart of any political ambition.

In the months leading up to 2025, the question remains: Will the city’s voters see meaningful changes, or will they be presented with the same faces playing different roles? The ultimate goal should be the common good, not the return to old political rivalries.