BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas yesterday announced four more persons that will complete the Team Uswag’s council slate for the May 2025 elections.
The four were Iloilo City Public Safety and Transportation Management Office chief Jeck Conlu, former city councilors Lyndon Acap and Mandrie Malabor, and Sheen Marie Mabilog, formerly the city’s youth council president.
The four will join re-electionist incumbents councilors Sedfrey Cabaluna, Jose Ma. Miguel Treñas, Alan Zaldivar, Frances Grace Parcon-Torres, Rudolph Jeffrey Ganzon, Rex Marcus Sarabia, Johnny Young, and Romel Duron.
Treñas said he dropped Councilor Urminico “Nick” Baronda from the team after a “careful study, barangay consultations, and multi-sectoral validations.”
“It looks like they have other plans,” the mayor said.
Treñas will seek reelection with incumbent Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon still as his running-mate.
In his press briefing on March 16, Treñas confirmed ending his political alliance with Rep. Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda, daughter of Councilor Baronda.
Treñas’ daughter and executive assistant, Raisa Treñas-Chu, will be his official candidate for congresswoman.
Councilor Baronda earlier told reporters that his family has yet to decide on their next political move.
During its special session on Monday, the majority of the City Council members voted to remove three committee chairmanships from Baronda.
The City Council approved majority floor leader Frances Grace Parcon-Torres’ proposal to declare vacant all committee chairmanships.
Majority members of the city council unanimously approved Parcon’s manifestation and subsequently designated the committees chaired by Baronda to their co-chairpersons.
Councilor Alan Zaldivar now chairs the Committee on Health, Sanitation, and Hospital Services, while Councilor Rudolph Jeffrey Ganzon heads the Committee on Education, Science, and Technology.
Councilor Jose Maria Miguel Treñas, the mayor’s son, is now the chair of the Committee on Information, Technology, and Computerization.
In his previous press briefing, Mayor Treñas said the removal of committee chairmanships from a perceived opposition official is a normal course of action in politics.
“Every time there’s a shift of alliance, there would always be change,” Treñas said./PN
