ILOILO City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas bolted out of the ruling administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD Tuesday to run for congressman in the city's lone district.

Treñas, who will run under a still unnamed party, will run against incumbent Iloilo City Representative Raul Gonzalez Jr. in May 10, 2010 elections.

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While he did not specify what political party he will soon join, Treñas is firm in his conviction to run for congressman after a deep discernment and spiritual guidance on his 2010 political plans.

Treñas asked his constituents to give him one week more to decide on his political party.

Talks in the political circle, however, revealed that Treñas would be joining the Nacionalista Party (NP) of presidential aspirant, Senator Manuel Villar Jr.

Treñas said after consultations with his family and supporters, he had come to the decision of seeking a political path to Congress.

He has been with the administration party since 2001. He is also a staunch ally of the Gonzalezes for several years.

Treñas said he has come to realize that public service is a continuous process and he could not ignore the clamor for him to run for the House of Representatives and continue serving his constituents that he served for three consecutive terms as mayor.

Rodolfo Eslita, convenor of the Uswag Iloilo Movement who spearheaded a signature campaign for Treñas to run for Congress, could not contain his happiness that the city mayor finally recognizes their efforts to push him to run.

The movement is composed mainly of urban poor organizations in the city that were able to gather more than 10,000 signatures to show Treñas their undying political support despite his political party affiliation.

On the other hand, Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, also a Lakas member, is set to be inducted to the Liberal Party (LP) next week.

Like Treñas, Mabilog is also a close political ally of the Gonzalezes who are among the strongest supporters of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Iloilo City.

Mabilog will seek the mayorship of the city in the 2010 general elections against Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Raul Gonzalez Sr.