ILOILO City – Mayor Raisa Treñas has publicly disassociated herself from the Uswag Ilonggo party-list amid corruption allegations over infrastructure projects, stressing that her focus is now on governance under the National Unity Party (NUP) and on supporting full accountability in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Treñas clarified that while she was once listed as the second nominee of Uswag Ilonggo in the 2022 elections, she formally shifted allegiance to NUP in early 2024 and successfully ran under its banner in the May 2025 polls.
“I acknowledge that I was once listed as a second nominee of Uswag Ilonggo in 2022. In early 2024, I joined the National Unity Party (NUP), and I ran under NUP for my 2025 mayoral candidacy,” she said through her spokesperson, Joy Fantilaga-Gorzal.
The mayor also voiced support for congressional inquiries into the alleged corruption scheme exposed by whistleblower and former DPWH employee Curlee Discaya, who implicated Uswag Ilonggo’s Cong. James “Jojo” Ang.
“As part of Mayors for Good Governance, I am committed to transparency and accountability. I support the creation of an independent commission to investigate and file charges against those responsible, along with the continued hearings in both the Senate and the House,” Treñas said.
Ang has denied the accusations of Discaya.
Former mayor Jerry Treñas, the current mayor’s father, likewise distanced himself from the party-list group, clarifying that although the “Uswag Iloilo” slogan was his brainchild during his 2001 campaign, he never held any position in the party-list that later adopted the name.
“Uswag Iloilo began as my slogan in 2001, which later evolved into a party-list, but I was never an officer. The party-list has since been actively managed by Cong. Jojo Ang, who has already denied the allegations against him and will answer them in due time,” the elder Treñas said./PN
