‘Graft Watch’ Press Releases Attack Target Mayor Treñas’ Team Uswag

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

In the run-up to the midterm elections, a group calling itself “Ilonggo Graft Watch” has released a series of press statements discrediting Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and his political group, Team Uswag.

The Daily Guardian has tracked 11 press releases from the group, which have been circulated primarily through a local radio station.

The statements largely target reelectionist Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon and criticize the governance of Mayor Treñas.

The first release, dated March 11, counters claims from Ganzon’s camp that he had passed over 2,000 ordinances during his time in office. Instead, the press release cites records from the City Council, showing that Ganzon sponsored only 10 ordinances and 56 resolutions during his 18 years of service as councilor and vice mayor.

The release also contrasts Ganzon’s legislative record with that of former City Councilor Love Baronda, who is challenging Ganzon for the vice mayoralty position.

Subsequent press releases, dated March 18, 24, and 25, cite former Iloilo City Councilor Plaridel Nava, who calls Ganzon “weak,” “incompetent,” and unfit for reelection.

The sponsored contents extend to Mayor Treñas as well. Press releases on March 13 and 20 criticize his administration’s policies, including the controversial 300% increase in real property tax rates, the paid parking program, and the rehabilitation of the Iloilo Terminal Market and Iloilo Central Market.

A March 20 press release referenced a report of a leader associated with Treñas’s Team Uswag, who was apprehended for alleged involvement in illegal drug activities.

Another press release, dated March 31, raises contradictions between Treñas’ past and present statements on former Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog’s alleged links to the drug trade.

Further reports, including one from April 1, allege discontent among Team Uswag supporters, claiming that rally attendees were unhappy with receiving only PHP 200 instead of the promised PHP 1,000, suggesting that promises made by the mayor’s camp were unfulfilled.

The latest press release, issued by the group on April 2, accused Treñas of having ties to the drug trade, citing businessman Rommel Ynion’s allegations that the mayor was connected to drug lord Melvin Odicta and had introduced Mabilog to him.

Interestingly, one of the releases on March 14 appears to support Love Baronda, casting her legislative work in a favorable light.

Under the Commission on Elections (Comelec) rules, all mass media entities must furnish COMELEC with a copy of all contracts for advertising, promoting, or opposing any political party or the candidacy of any person for public office within five days after signing the contract.

This includes details such as the period of advertisement, date of contract, names and signatures of parties involved, and the amount paid for the advertisement

Media networks are required to properly report the expenditures of candidates in airing their campaign advertisements. This is crucial for reflecting how much candidates spent on their election campaigns.

If airtime or space is donated, it must be clearly identified as such, stating “airtime for this broadcast was provided free of charge” or “printed free of charge,” followed by the name and address of the media entity.

Media entities must preserve their broadcast logs or analogous records for a period of five years from the date of broadcast

Media entities must preserve their broadcast logs or analogous records for a period of five years from the date of broadcast.

The Comelec said that non-disclosure of media networks on the expenditures for airing campaign advertisements is a violation of Republic Act 9006 or the Fair Election Act and Comelec guidelines.

Daily Guardian has reached out to Comelec-Iloilo City for clarification on the regulations they impose if ever they have, but the office has yet to reply as of this writing.