CONGRESSMAN Raul T. Gonzalez Jr. of Lakas-Kampi-CMD extends his best wishes but laments Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas' action in getting out of the party to challenge him in 2010.

But then, Gonzalez said his group can now breathe and work freely without waiting for Treñas to decide whether to run for vice mayor in tandem with Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Raul Gonzalez Sr., who is running for city mayor under the Lakas party.

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In a press conference attended by the local media and majority of barangay captains and supporters on Wednesday, Gonzalez admitted that he heard Treñas has been meeting with the opposition since last month to try his luck in getting the nomination for congressman.

The lawmaker said Treñas is the best mayor Iloilo City ever had and his experience and expertise are very much needed by the city constituents.

However, politics is a science of social reality and Gonzalez said he understood the ambition of Treñas.

Gonzalez added Lakas was affected with the getting out of the city mayor and vice mayor to seek other political parties that will support them. But, he said, the administration party will continue to do its mandate and many local leaders are lining up to fill in the space left by Treñas and Vice Mayor Jed Mabilog.

Gonzalez is now serving his second term as member of the House of Representatives and is eyeing a third term, which is being challenged by the former partymate and supporter.

He said the good relationship forged by Treñas and himself over the years had placed Iloilo City as one of the top cities in the country.
Sharing a vision with Treñas for the good of the city, Gonzalez said they have worked together for the past 10 years when he was still a city councilor.

"Treñas is a valuable asset of the city and we share more commonality than differences with him," Gonzalez said.

Treñas announced his intention to run for congressman in 2010 last November 3 and his action to bolt out of Lakas to seek other political parties ready to adopt him.

Among these parties are the Nacionalista Party under presidentiable Senator Manuel Villar and the Liberal Party of presidentiable Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino.

The group of Presidential Assistant on Water Secretary Larry Jamora is also negotiating Treñas to join him and be the standard bearer for congressman under the Kampi party.