ILOILO CITY – A word war between Mayor Jerry Treñas here and Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran erupted on Friday, June 23, over the repatriation of Badjaos, a nomadic and Indigenous Peoples group.
TRENAS (FB)
Treñas declared Familiaran persona non-grata for allegedly sending 80 Badjaos to this city.
“I am very disappointed by the lack of proper coordination on the part of Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran regarding this matter. As a leader himself, he is expected to observe proper measures as a sign of respect to other LGUs (local government units),” said Treñas in a statement.
“As the Chief Executive of Iloilo City, I abhor this kind of behavior. He should be accountable to his actions,” Treñas added.
In statements sent to some members of the Iloilo City Hall Press Corps, Treñas ranted how the “stupidity of a government official is shown by the stupidity of his actions,” referring to Familiaran.
The Bacolod City vice mayor, currently acting mayor, slammed Treñas.
FAMILIARAN (FB)
“Respect begets respect. Tani nag investigate ka anay antes ka nag pulok pulok! (Respect begets Respect. You should have investigated before having a knee-jerk reaction),” Familiaran said in his personal Facebook page.
The Bacolod city government’s social services office repatriated the Badjaos and paid their tickets for a ship bound for Zamboanga City.
When the ship docked at the port of Dumangas town in Iloilo province, the Badjaos allegedly disembarked and went straight here.
In a separate statement, Familiaran pointed out that Treñas should not be blaming him when the Badjaos decided to go to Iloilo instead of going straight to Zamboanga.
This is not the first time Treñas initiated word wars with other government officials or any critics.
Last year, Treñas verbally attacked Bacolod Mayor Abelardo “Albee” Benitez.
At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Treñas also verbally attacked then Cabinet secretaries, including Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Harry Roque Jr., spokesperson of former President Rodrigo Duterte.