‘NOT FOR NOW’: Mabilog has no plans to run in 2025 polls

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor 

Former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog has clarified that he has no immediate plans to reenter politics, shutting down speculation about a possible run in the 2025 midterm elections.

“I don’t have plans for politics — for now,” he said during his courtesy visit to Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas on Friday, September 20. The visit marked his return to the city after seven years of exile in the United States, coinciding with his 59th birthday celebration.

In a press conference earlier in the day, Mabilog expressed his desire to rest from public service, emphasizing that he is “not yet in the tone” of politics and only wants peace of mind.

However, the former mayor’s declaration does not seem as definitive as he left the possibility of a political comeback to divine intervention.

“Only God knows if I will run again or not […] I realized I should submit myself to God’s plans. We should no longer plan our lives, but rather prepare and surrender them to God’s will,” he explained.

‘STOP THE INSTIGATION’ 

Mabilog expressed optimism that the seemingly strained relationship between Treñas and Iloilo City’s lone district Rep. Julienne Baronda will be resolved soon.

He appealed for restraint from those fueling the tension, urging the public to avoid escalating the situation and to give the parties time to reconcile.

“Let’s not talk about it too much because it only makes things more chaotic and complicated. Let’s stop the instigation,” Mabilog said.

Treñas, in front of Mabilog, veered away from answering questions related to his relationship with Baronda.

“Don’t ask me about that, we’re having a good conversation here,” he said.

The city mayor emphasized that he is on good terms with Mabilog, citing the 13 years of their political alliance. Mabilog was elected City Councilor of Iloilo in 2004 to 2007, Vice Mayor in 2007, and Mayor from 2010 to 2016. During these terms, Mabilog and Treñas were in the same slate.

Mabilog also refused to comment on who he is going to endorse in the next elections — the Uswag slate of Treñas or the Gugma slate of Baronda.

The former mayor, who has repeatedly thanked Baronda for helping him during his exile and return to the country, only said in jest about possibly working as a program host for the congresswoman’s programs.

Treñas said that if Mabilog finds himself caught between the two sides, he won’t pressure him to take sides, stating, “I won’t force him to come to mine.”

‘DID TREÑAS HELP MABILOG?’ 

“No comment,” this was the brief response of Mabilog after a long pause when asked if Treñas had reached out to help when he was threatened to be killed by former president Rodrigo Duterte and during the time he went into exile.

He did, however, recall that some of Treñas’ executive assistants reached out to him during the ordeal.

For his part, Treñas explained that he made efforts to assist Mabilog through his connections with Duterte’s administration, particularly through former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

“We tried several times. As a matter of fact, when we shifted to Partido Demokratiko Pilipino, I invited Jed to attend but Alvarez did not allow it. That’s my only access to Duterte,” he said.

Mabilog’s exile came after Duterte accused him of being a protector of illegal drugs in 2016 — at a time when Treñas was the elected congressman.