Iloilo City mayor looks forward to ‘stress-free life’ after term

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas —Jerry Treñas/Facebook

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Mayor Jerry Treñas has announced his readiness to retreat into a quieter life after 39 years in politics after the city’s voters choose their new leaders in next year’s midterm elections.

The mayor, in a statement released on Dec. 6, said he was looking forward to a “stress-free life” after years in public service since he was appointed as city councilor at the age of 29 in 1986.

Treñas, 67, said he would be focusing on spending more time with his grandchildren and returning to his practice of law.

READ: Iloilo City approves P4.1-B local budget for 2025

“I will be enjoying my six lovely granddaughters as they grow up, and I will also engage in limited law practice. I have already requested the lawyers at the law office to clean my room so I will have a place to go in case I need to keep myself busy,” he said.

Treñas, who has five children with wife Rosalie, had been on medical leave since late September this year after he underwent a bile duct procedure in Manila.

On Dec. 2, he said the bag attached to his bile duct was removed.

“I feel much stronger now. Moving around is easier without the tube and bag and I’m incredibly grateful for this progress,” Treñas said.

“This is my second life, granted by the grace of our Lord, and I intend to enjoy it while I still can. God is so good,” he added.

The mayor was expected to return to work on Dec. 9.

Tutor rule

Treñas originally intended to run for another term, a third for this tenure and his sixth overall as mayor.

However, he changed his mind on Oct. 3 and decided to instead back his daughter, mayoralty candidate Raisa Treñas-Chu, who is serving as his executive assistant.

Treñas-Chu is running against independent candidate Roland Magahin, a former president of the city’s Terminal Market Vendors Associations.

“I will be like a tutor to my daughter Raisa. I will always be there,” said Treñas of his daughter, should she win the elections.

“I [also] intend to share my limited time and expertise with local chief executives who seek my advice and assistance in any way I can,” he added.

Treñas served as city councilor from 1986 to April 1992.

He became mayor in 2001, serving three terms until 2010. He also served as congressman of the city’s lone district from 2010 to 2019.

Treñas ran again and won as mayor of Iloilo City in 2019, defeating his brother-in-law, then mayor Jose Espinosa III. Treñas was reelected in 2022.