Iloilo City Councilor Joshua Alim recently revealed he is considering a run for congress in the upcoming 2019 midterm elections.

The city official differentiated himself from incumbent Iloilo City lone district Rep. Jerry P. Treñas, noting their differing personal and professional backgrounds.

“Manggaranon sya, imol ako (He is rich, I am poor),” he said. “Abogado sya sang [Panay Electric Company, Inc. (PECO)], abogado ako sang konsumidor sang PECO kag nag-away kami ni [Plaridel Nava] sa drugs and corruption, sila ya pahimunong kag wala tingog. (He is a lawyer for PECO, I am a lawyer for the PECO consumers and we fought Plaridel Nava on drugs and corruption, they didn’t do anything and kept quiet).”

Alim also offered a response to the recent talk of Treñas reportedly trying to strike up deals with other local politicians to join his slate.

He noted, the people will decide who is elected into political office and “not Treñas.”

Last week, Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III, who was allegedly approached by Treñas to swap positions in 2019, dismissed comments made by the congressman claiming the mayor was busy with “pangkakas, pang-ipit, and pangkuga (take down, oppress, and strangle),” saying, “Dulodugsing lang na ah (It’s just playing around).”

The criticism is believed to be a precursor for a possible clash between the two city officials in next year’s mayoral race; however, with regard to next year’s elections, Espinosa said it is still early.

“The election is still far away,” he stated./WDJ