Treñas: Iloilo City is still safe except for politicians like me
Amid threats on his life, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas yesterday maintained that the city is still safe to live in.
“Iloilo City is still safe except for politicians like me,” Treñas quipped a day after two alleged former members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) came out and exposed the assassination plot against the mayor and his brother Francis.
“I am very disappointed that this is happening in our city... that our political enemies have to resort to this kind of tactics,” Treñas told members of the media in a press conference at his office.
Alias Nonoy and Noli, who claimed to be former members of the RPA-ABB, on Monday faced the media and claimed that the RPA-ABB hierarchy were offered P300,000 to kill Treñas and his younger brother Francis.
The two claimed that three persons, namely, Chief Insp. Musa Amiyong, former Barangay Captain Morit Gratis and PO2 Rolex Refugio made the transaction with RPA-ABB leader Demetrio Capilastique alias Ka Hugo and Rustico Cutanda alias Ka Rolly in Brgy. Daja, Maasin, Iloilo first week of April this year.
The three persons they mentioned are identified with former Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr., who is running for city mayor.
The plot, however, did not materialize after alias Nonoy and Noli backed out from the group late last month. They claimed that they had withdrawn from the group because they were bothered by their conscience and they could not take the things they were told to do.
“Our city has not seen this kind of elections where violence and intimidations are rampant,” Treñas said.
Treñas said despite the threats, life is normal to him except that he has tightened his security. He even continues with his campaign sorties in the city’s barangays.
“Ang importante mangamuyo kita. Ang taming ta sa pwersa sang kadulom amo ang pangamuyo,” Treñas said.
Treñas also expressed frustration that the Philippine National Police hierarchy in the region does not take seriously the threats he has received.
“I’m starting to lose hope with the region (Police Regional Office 6)... they don’t take seriously the incidents happening in the city which threaten my life and that of my family,” Treñas said.
Meanwhile, Gonzalez quickly denied involvement in the alleged plan to assassinate Treñas and his brother.
He dubbed as part of a grand design to discredit him the coming out of two alleged former RPA-ABB members claiming to have knowledge on the supposed plan.
He even challenged alias Nonoy and Noli to come out in the open and to have a face to face confrontation with the three persons whom they identified to have made the alleged transaction.
Alias Nonoy and Noli were both wearing bonnet and a garb to cover their body when they faced a group of reporters at a certain place in Arevalo district last Monday.