‘R-E-S-P-E-C-T’: Vice mayor slams councilor’s loaded birthday greeting

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

Iloilo City Vice Mayor Lady Julie Grace Baronda on Sunday, Nov. 16, called for respect in local politics after a birthday greeting by City Councilor Jose Maria Dela Llana linked her to former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who is currently embroiled in corruption allegations.

In a public Facebook post, Dela Llana greeted Baronda—who celebrated her birthday on Saturday, Nov. 15—with a photo showing her taking her oath of office before Romualdez in June 2025.

“Before this day ends, I want to greet our Vice Mayor Love Baronda a happy, happy birthday. Wishing you all the best. See you in session, Ma’am,” Dela Llana wrote.

Romualdez was recently tagged by former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co as one of the alleged masterminds behind PHP 100 billion in budget insertions for infrastructure and flood control projects in the proposed 2025 national budget.

Vice Mayor Baronda, her sister and Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne “Jam” Baronda, and Councilor Sheen Marie Mabilog were the only successful 2025 candidates from Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats, where Romualdez still serves as party president.

Dela Llana defended his use of the photo in the comments section of his post, responding to criticism by pointing out that Rep. Baronda also publicly greeted Romualdez in the past.

“[Rep. Baronda] also greeted [Romualdez] and I can’t?” he replied.

He further argued that Romualdez had not been found guilty by any court or tribunal and that he simply used a publicly available photo.

“Because she’s [Vice Mayor Baronda] in the same group as Martin Romualdez? Why, is she guilty by association? The [former] Speaker hasn’t been adjudged guilty. It’s not my fault they have a photo,” he said.

Vice Mayor Baronda responded with a Facebook post of her own, titled “Taha sa Public Office, Respeto sa Mando sang Ilonggo” (Respect in Public Office, Respect for the Ilonggo Mandate), accompanied by a photo of her with Dela Llana during the 2025 campaign season.

While she did not mention Dela Llana by name, she emphasized that how officials conduct themselves reflects how they treat the Ilonggo public they serve.

“My colleagues in the council [were] elected by the Ilonggo—just like me. Even if I do not agree with every public official, I respect [them] because that is the mandate of the people,” she said.

“That is basic. That is being taught in our youth. Whatever joke you intend to do in public office, that is also what you show the Ilonggo who voted and trusted the people who are sitting there.”

Rep. Baronda commented on the post, offering a reminder about compassion and values.

“Sis, be kind still. Be understanding still. Be compassionate still. Be loving still. Be thankful & be forgiving still. Let us always be reminded of what our parents taught us: respect to humankind and animals,” she wrote.

This is not the first time Dela Llana clashed with council colleagues. In October, he filed a proposed Freedom of Information ordinance shortly after Mabilog filed a similar measure. He later criticized hers as a “tasteless cake” in a radio interview.

On Sunday afternoon, Dela Llana issued another Facebook statement in response to the controversy, denying any intent to disrespect Baronda.

“Where is the disrespect there? From one official to another, I just greeted her a happy birthday. Please show me the disrespect,” he said.

“Her picture with House Speaker Martin Romualdez came from her page—not AI. I didn’t make it up. What is so wrong with a photo of her with [former] Speaker Romualdez? As a matter of fact, after she won the election, she even went to Congress and took oath before [Romualdez]. At the height of his power and popularity, almost all of [Romualdez’s] photos—she was there. Now that there’s a hot issue, they don’t want to be seen as friends?”

He also claimed he has always respected the Baronda sisters, despite what he described as online attacks from their supporters during the campaign season.

“In my entire private and political career—before, during, and after elections—I have never engaged in personal or below-the-belt attacks against VM Love Baronda or even Cong. Jam. I have high regard for both of them,” he said.

Dela Llana concluded by suggesting that if Vice Mayor Baronda felt insulted by her association with Romualdez, she should remove her public photos with him.

“If the vice mayor is insulted by her association with Former Speaker Romualdez, then she should remove her pictures with him.”