Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas. Photo from his Facebook page
ILOILO CITY––City Mayor Jerry Treñas has posted photos on his social media accounts of Vice President Leni Robredo and him when she visited this city, short of endorsing her in next year’s presidential elections.
“When you understand the cry of the community, we should not wait for the click of the camera to act. As a public servant and a lawyer, I should stand firm for the welfare of my people. As the father of the city, I must also choose the right leader to guide and lead us – someone who has shown unyielding courage in the face of adversity, someone who has proven to be effective, despite the limited resources, and someone who has no traces of corruption,” the mayor said in a statement posted on his Facebook page around 9:20 a.m. Monday.
“I have known Vice President Leni for a long time, and as colleagues and friends in public service, she has always been supportive of our projects here in Iloilo City,” he said.
The statement was posted along with photos of Robredo and the mayor when she visited the Iloilo City Uswag Molecular Laboratory in October 2020.
“We need leaders not in love with money but in love with justice. Not in love with publicity but in love with humanity,” the mayor quoted slain American civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
On Sunday evening, Treñas posted on his Twitter account: “Para maganda ang gising nyo bukas” that was followed by a heart emoticon also along with photos of Robredo and the mayor when she visited the Iloilo City Uswag Molecular Laboratory last year.
“Thank you very much for your support, Mayor Jerry,” according to a reply from Robredo’s Twitter account.
In reply to Robredo’s post, Treñas said: “I admire your grit. You have unyielding courage in the face of adversity and have proven to be effective despite the limited resources. Above all, you have no traces of corruption.”
Asked by the INQUIRER whether this was an endorsement of Robredo, the mayor said: “She is a good friend and has been very supportive of Iloilo City.”
“(She is a) a friend among the presidential candidates but (I) will wait for the party (decision),” he added after being pressed by the INQUIRER if this was an endorsement or declaration of whom he will support.