Team Uswag Accuses Sulong Gugma of Endorsing Rival Mayoral Bet

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

Team Uswag, led by the Treñas family, accused Team Sulong Gugma of backing mayoral candidate Roland Magahin, despite an agreement to treat the Iloilo City mayoral race as a “free zone.”

The accusation was made by outgoing Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas on Monday, April 14, who claimed that Team Sulong Gugma had produced tarpaulins featuring Magahin’s image alongside their slate.

Treñas said this violated an agreement brokered by House Speaker Martin Romualdez, in which both camps committed not to field candidates for the city’s congressional and mayoral races.

Team Uswag is headed by mayoral candidate Raisa Treñas-Chu, daughter of Mayor Treñas and his former executive assistant.

Team Sulong Gugma is led by reelectionist lone district Rep. Julienne “Jam-Jam” Baronda.

“I have seen it directly. I saw tarpaulins showing they are endorsing Magahin,” Treñas said.

“That is a violation of what we agreed upon with Speaker Romualdez. We will file a complaint after the election.”

Daily Guardian has not independently confirmed the mayor’s claims, but found photos showing Magahin with Team Sulong Gugma tarpaulins and digital materials depicting him with the group.

However, there was no direct endorsement or statement from Rep. Baronda or her sister, vice mayoral candidate and former councilor Lady Julie Grace Baronda.

Magahin previously appeared as a guest on a Feb. 9 episode of a blocktime program over Aksyon Radyo Iloilo, hosted by Salvador Capulot, who is running for councilor under Team Sulong Gugma.

Team Sulong Gugma spokesperson, lawyer John Mallare, denied endorsing Magahin and indirectly criticized Mayor Treñas, accusing him of “sowing a lie during Holy Week.”

Mallare referenced Caiaphas, the Jewish priest involved in the trial of Jesus Christ, suggesting Treñas was similarly motivated by fear and the desire to stay in power.

“Iloilo City Rep. Julienne Baronda, former Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, and any Team Sulong Gugma candidate have NOT endorsed Roland Magahin,” Mallare said.

“The growing discontent of the Ilonggos due to the agony they face under this administration should encourage deeper reflection this Holy Week,” he added.

“This Holy Week, we also remember Caiaphas, who had to spew lies out of fear, envy and desire to remain in power,” he said.

Magahin also denied receiving any endorsement from Team Sulong Gugma and addressed Mayor Treñas directly during an interview with RMN Iloilo.

“Mayor Treñas, maybe you’re listening. Maybe your meds are too strong and you can’t hear well,” he said.

“I’m saying this clearly—I have never been endorsed by Rep. Baronda or Team Sulong Gugma.”

He accused the Treñas camp of spreading lies and misleading the public.

“The number one liar here is Mayor Treñas’ camp,” he said.

“For the past five months on their blocktime programs, they claimed Raisa had no opponent. That’s a lie and an insult to the Commission on Elections.”

Magahin maintained that he is running as an independent but said he personally endorses Team Sulong Gugma.

“I am the one endorsing Sulong Gugma and Rep. Baronda. That’s my right as an independent mayoral candidate,” he said.

He also claimed that he was asked four times by Team Uswag to withdraw from the race.

“I was asked several times to back out. Am I really a threat to them?” he said.

“They called me four times. It was definitely from Team Uswag. There are only two camps—red and blue. Who’s my opponent? Raisa Treñas. But I brushed them off. I won’t be swayed.”

Team Uswag dismissed Magahin’s accusations as desperate political tactics.

“We’ve seen Magahin’s statements. The mayor laughed them off. These are antics of someone feeling the heat,” said Joy Fantilaga, spokesperson for Mayor Treñas.

“Some individuals are twisting the narrative to gain sympathy. The alleged withdrawal request is a diversionary tactic to distract from the fact that Team Sulong Gugma did not honor its agreement with Speaker Romualdez.”

Mayor Treñas doubled down, saying the tarpaulins and Magahin’s guesting on the blocktime show serve as proof of endorsement.

“There are photos. There’s a blocktime appearance. That’s the basis of my claim,” he said.

“If you’re used to lying, you become a liar. It’s Holy Week. They should reflect and confess before they sin again.”

Treñas also denied endorsing Rep. Baronda’s congressional rival, perennial candidate Mel Carreon, during Team Uswag’s campaign kickoff rally in March.

A comment on Daily Guardian’s Facebook page showed a sample ballot with Carreon’s name, allegedly distributed by Team Uswag.

“I didn’t endorse Carreon. I said if they kept campaigning for Magahin, I would support Carreon,” Treñas said.

“The problem is, when we speak, they act deaf. But they want to be the only ones heard. That’s not right.”