WHY ONLY NOW? Treñas questions timing of Baronda’s move to clear Mabilog of narco links

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas questioned the timing of lone district Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda’s recent move to clear the name of former city mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog regarding his alleged links to illegal drugs.

Treñas said Baronda did not take any action to clear Mabilog’s name during the tenure of former President Rodrigo Duterte, implying that she was merely going along with the administration at the time.

“Jamjam didn’t file it when Duterte was in power. Now that Duterte is no longer in office, it’s her chance. Jamjam and Jed are very close friends, but during Duterte’s time, she never filed it because she was just going along with things,” Treñas said during a press conference on Monday, August 19.

[EXACT QUOTE: Cong Jamjam did not file it when Duterte was in power. Subong nga wala na si Duterte, chansa na niya ini. Jamjam kag Jed are very close friends yet during the time of Duterte, she never filed it kay ti naga-amo-amo man siya.]

Baronda, currently serving her second term, assumed the role of the city’s lone district representative in 2019. Treñas held the same position from 2010 to 2019 during the 15th, 16th, and 17th Congresses.

In August 2016, during Treñas’ time as a congressman, Duterte branded Iloilo as the “most shabulized” city and accused Mabilog of having links to the illegal drug trade.

Facing threats from Duterte, Mabilog left the country on August 30, 2017, for an official trip to Japan and Malaysia.

He subsequently filed a sick leave to seek medical treatment abroad in September and has not returned to the country since.

“Maybe now, it’s her (Baronda) time, and perhaps she’s just going along with things again. It’s her chance now,” Treñas added.

[EXACT QUOTE: Subong siguro tyempo naman basi ga amo amo na ina siya subong. Chansa niya na ini.]

During the joint public hearing of the House Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts on August 16, Baronda appealed to Congress to clear the city’s name as the “most shabulized” city in the country.

She also suggested convincing Mabilog to return to the country to “shed light on the war on drugs in Iloilo” and to clear his name.

Baronda argued that the accusations and threats made by Duterte against Mabilog constituted a violation of his human rights.

Treñas agreed that it is time for Mabilog to return to the country. “It’s always time for Jed to come back and clear his name if he wants to,” he said, noting that the former city mayor should return “not for whatever reasons Baronda might have.”

Treñas and Baronda recently ended their political alliance, with Treñas citing Baronda’s betrayal as a key reason for their split.

He said that Baronda has been assembling her team for the 2025 midterm elections, which prompted him to sever ties with her after being political allies for two terms.

When asked about a possible political tandem with the former mayor, Treñas expressed openness to teaming up with Mabilog in the upcoming midterm elections.

“It would be better if Jed runs with me,” he said.

However, Treñas noted that if Mabilog chooses to side with Baronda, he would respect the former mayor’s decision.

“It depends on him. Politics is a personal choice. There’s nothing we can do if someone chooses differently,” he emphasized, noting that he is always “threatened” by whoever his political rival may be.