Lamenting the Treñas-Baronda Split

By Herbert Vego

WHY do Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and Congresswoman Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda attack each other below the belt — on stage and on the air — when they are not running against each other?

You only have to listen to their radio ads to know them.

In fact, Treñas is not running for any position.  It’s his daughter Raisa running for mayor – not against Baronda, who is running for re-election as congresswoman.  These two ladies who are friends, in and outside Facebook, could have just teamed up.

We can only presume that their feud stems from a common ground – say, the passion to dominate local politics.

What a pity! By her own admission, Baronda owes a debt of gratitude to Treñas because she could not have assumed her House seat without his support in two previous elections.

If my memory serves me right, Jerry and Jam had agreed not to field an opponent against each other. The deal would catapult the two ladies to the winning line without waiting for the May 12, 2025 election. As it is, their rivals are deemed “token”.

Unfortunately, the congresswoman’s sister, Julie Grace Baronda, was not part of the deal; and thus, would have to unseat “llamado” re-electionist Vice-Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, who is Raisa’s running mate in Team Uswag.

Moreover, both camps have different sets of candidates for councilors to worry about. The Baronda group is known as Team Gugma.

Mayor Jerry Treñas would not worry about Baronda getting re-elected for her third term.  But he seemed to have predicted that she would align with former mayor Jed Mabilog in election 2028. She might run for mayor against Raisa; and Mabilog, for congressman.

He hinted about it in Team Uswag’s kickoff rally, where he warned against a “drug protector and financier” returning to politics.

Mabilog had gone out of the country for seven years to escape the wrath of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who had labeled Iloilo City as the “most shabulized” city in the country,

As regards the demise of the Treñas-Baronda-Mabilog trio, I can only say, “Matira and matibay!”

-oOo-

ANTIQUE SP SUSPENSION, POLITICALLY MOTIVATED?

THE preventive suspension of eight board members of Antique for one year without pay by the Office of the Ombudsman appears to be politically motivated.

Suspended were Egidio Elio, Rony Molina, Victor Condez, Alfie Jay Niquia, Mayella Mae Plameras-Ladislao, Plaridel Sanchez IV, Kenneth Dave Gasalao and Julius Cezar Tajanlangit for grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, and conduct unbecoming of public officers.

The eight are identified with the political camp of Congressman Antonio Agapito Legarda, who is running for re-election against outgoing Governor Rhodora Cadiao.

Their suspension seems to have created a rift between Ombudsman Samuel Martires and the Court of Appeals (CA). It’s because, in his complaint-affidavit filed with the Judicial Integrity Board (JIB) under the Supreme Court, Martires accused the CA justices of alleged gross ignorance of the law and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Named respondents are Associate Justices Louis Acosta, Mary Charlene Hernandez Azura, Ferdinand Baylon, Rex Bernardo Pascual, Roberto Quiroz, Rafael Antonio Santos and Marlene Gonzales Sison

Martires questioned the CA’s action on the certiorari petitions granted in favor of the suspended Antique. Certiorari is a legal remedy used to ask a court to review another body’s decision or to check if there was any grave abuse of discretion that was committed, with the goal of reversing the assailed decision.

The suspended board members are Egidio Elio, Rony Molina, Victor Condez, Alfie Jay Niquia, Mayella Mae Plameras-Ladislao, Plaridel Sanchez IV, Kenneth Dave Gasalao and Julius Cezar Tajanlangit for grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, and conduct unbecoming of public officers.

In a signed statement, the suspended board members deplored that Martires’ action against the CA “creates an unfortunate and unfair impression that the Honorable Justices are guilty of the accusations – even before the matter has been heard or resolved by the proper tribunal.”

The Ombudsman suspended the board members for deleting the budget for three solar projects included in the proposed PHP1.075-billion supplemental budget in 2024.

The Ombudsman said appropriating zero amounts to solar projects could not be justified as a faithful performance of their sworn duty.

Pero sa totoo lang, why waste so much for solar energy just because the Antique Electric Cooperative (Anteco) overcharges power consumers?

Are there millions of reasons on the part of Camp Cadiao?

-oOo-

ANOTHER EMPOWERED WOMAN AT MORE POWER

SHE is Atty. Elizabeth Dyhn A. Cabunagan, the new Assistant Vice President and Legal Officer of MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power), whose legal insight ensures the company operates with integrity and strategic precision.

Cabunagan plays a crucial role in overseeing contract reviews, risk management, and regulatory compliance, while also ensuring board meetings run smoothly with well-prepared reports and documentation.

Currently, she is working on the MORE Power Legal Policy, a project that will standardize and formalize legal procedures, ensuring seamless coordination across departments. Her dedication to legal excellence strengthens the company’s foundation for growth and sustainability.