‘WE AGREED ON IT’: Raisa Treñas Defends Role in Dinagyang Countdown

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

Iloilo City Acting Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon and mayoralty candidate Raisa Treñas-Chu responded to criticisms on Tuesday, October 22, over Chu’s leadership role in the Dinagyang countdown on Monday, October 21, stating it was based on an agreement with the organizers.

Treñas-Chu, who resigned as executive assistant to her father, Mayor Jerry Treñas, on October 7 before filing her candidacy on October 8, issued a statement clarifying her appearance at the event.

She explained that the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), which organizes the annual festival, had invited her and that her father had asked her to attend on his behalf.

“I was invited by the IFFI for the [Dinagyang countdown] event. I also attended last year because I received an invitation then,” Chu said in her statement on Monday.

“This year, my father, Mayor Jerry Treñas, wanted to deliver his speech personally and declare the 100-day countdown to the Dinagyang Festival 2025. However, he is currently in Manila and recovering. So, on his behalf, since I was also invited, I was asked by my father, as his daughter, to read his message and make the declaration together with Vice Mayor [Ganzon],” she added.

Mayor Treñas has been on leave since late September due to health issues, later confirming on October 3 that he had undergone a bile duct operation.

Ganzon, Chu’s running mate for re-election, who has been acting mayor since September 28, told Aksyon Radyo Iloilo that there was an “internal arrangement” between Treñas and the IFFI.

He did not directly comment on Chu’s delegation but addressed the criticisms by asking for public understanding.

“According to [IFFI], they had a prior agreement with the mayor, that if he wasn’t available, Raisa would speak. It’s the organizers who control the program and provide advice,” Ganzon said.

“It’s just a small thing, a small override. Let’s just understand the situation. I don’t know everything, but I understand,” the vice mayor added.

Chu faced online criticism for leading the Dinagyang countdown instead of Ganzon.

She also faced backlash regarding an event on Sunday, where she did not acknowledge Councilor Urminico Baronda Jr., father of lone district Representative Julienne Baronda, a leader of the opposing camp.

The lawmaker’s sister, Lady Julie Grace, is challenging Ganzon, who is seeking his third and final full term in the 2025 elections.