Baronda’ Rebuffs Treñas’ ‘Unity Deal’

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

The camp of Iloilo City’s lone district representative, Julienne “Jam” Baronda, on Friday, Oct. 4, clarified that no final agreement had been reached, countering an announcement by Mayor Jerry Treñas on Thursday, Oct. 3, about their teams joining forces for the 2025 elections.

Baronda released a statement Friday morning confirming ongoing discussions between the two sides but declined to provide further details.

She said a clearer statement would be issued only after all issues had been worked out.

“We confirm that discussions are underway to unify the major positions in this election. We view this as a positive development. However, we will refrain from further statements until all details are finalized, all outstanding issues are resolved, and all terms are agreed upon,” she said in the statement.

This echoed a remark by her spokesperson, Pastor Stanley Flores, on Thursday, who responded to reports from several local media outlets of a potential reunited ticket with her supposed rival, executive assistant Raisa Treñas-Chu.

Under this scenario, Chu would forego the congressional race and instead run to succeed her father as mayor.

Despite these developments, both camps plan to proceed with their separate displays of support on the last day of filing for candidacies, Oct. 8.

The Treñas-led “Team Uswag” will hold a motorcade in City Proper, while the Baronda camp will stage its Gugma Sulong Day at the University of San Agustin Gym.

As of this writing, it remains unclear whether former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog will join the local race, despite the recent use of his “Sulong” tag in Baronda’s Gugma events.

OTHER VOICES

Prominent figures within their circles have also weighed in on the matter.

Uswag Ilonggo Party-list Rep. James “Jojo” Ang expressed support for the possible Treñas-Baronda alliance.

Ang led a distribution of wages from the Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, which Chu, the party list’s second nominee in the 2022 elections, also attended.

While Ang did not explicitly outline his role in the talks, he indicated that he had acted as a bridge between Baronda and Chu.

“Since the beginning, we’ve hoped to come together for the progress of the people. It’s like a slight lovers’ quarrel, but as they say, love is sweeter the second time around,” Ang told the media.

“There aren’t any personal conflicts. All of us as public servants are focused on how we can help. If we compete against each other, nothing will happen. It’s important that we avoid competition. I want them to be on good terms. Just seeing them meet makes me happy,” he added.

On Friday, Mabilog took to his personal Facebook account to seemingly criticize the party list for its alleged involvement in local politics, calling them “bitter.”

“Haist, Uswag Ilonggo is messing everything up, and it’s getting more bitter. Calm down!” the ex-mayor wrote in Hiligaynon.

His wife, Marivic, also appeared to target the party list, which has connections to the Pavia-based International Builders Corporation (IBC), where Ang worked as operations manager.

The IBC remains entangled in controversy over the Ungka Flyover, which is currently undergoing rectification work.

“Uswag Iloilo, kindly fix the broken [Ungka Flyover] which you built before getting involved in things that will make Ilonggos happy. My new hobby: break Uswag,” Marivic Mabilog posted.

Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, in a Facebook post, hinted that he was not part of the discussions but reassured his supporters that he and Treñas would finish their terms in 2025. He also reaffirmed his intention to run for his final term.

“In light of recent political developments, as the only local elected official who publicly supported [President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] regardless of the outcome of the 2022 presidential election, I want to inform my supporters that although I wasn’t part of the deal, Mayor Jerry Treñas and his family assured me that we would finish strong as a team. As an incumbent city official, and with one term left, I will run for reelection and complete my term,” Ganzon wrote.