ILOILO CITY – The two opposing political parties in this city are not fielding a candidate for Congress and mayor.
Team Gugma has no candidate for mayor and Team Uswag has no candidate for Congress.
Thus, Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda of Team Gugma and mayoral candidate Raisa Treñas-Chu, the daughter of Mayor Jerry Treñas, of Team Uswag are poised to win in May.
TEAM Uswag led by Raisa Treñas-Chu (first row, fourth from left), daughter of Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas. (Jerry Treñas Facebook)
Baronda and Chu were supposed to battle each other for congresswoman.
Mayor Treñas severed alliance with Baronda last March when he announced that his daughter will replace her as congresswoman and he is running for a third term and final term as mayor.
But informal surveys showed that Chu was far behind Baronda as congressional candidate.
The return of former Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog exacerbated the political situation that might have ended the reign of Mayor Treñas who has not been seen in public for more than two weeks due to alleged bile duct surgery.
In an October 3 statement, Mayor Treñas announced he is not anymore seeking reelection and endorsed his daughter who has never held any elective post.
Mabilog dropped his bid for mayor despite calls to run to fix the problems at City Hall under the Treñas administration.
Despite the statement of unity, Baronda and fielded separate candidates for vice mayor and two different slates for city council.
Incumbent Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon is the vice mayoral candidate for the Chu camp.
TEAM Gugma led by Iloilo City Rep. Julienne ‘JamJam’ Baronda (seventh from left). (Rep. Baronda Facebook)
Love Baronda, a former city councilor and the sister of Rep. Baronda, is running for vice mayor.
Running for councilor under Chu are incumbents Sedfrey Cabaluna, Romel Duron, Rex Sarabia, Frances Grace Parcon-Torres, Miguel Treñas, Rudolph Jeffrey Ganzon, Johnny Young, Alan Zaldivar, former councilors Lyndon Acap and Mandrie Malabor, as well as Nene dela Llana and Shiella Olid.
Running for councilor under Baronda are former councilor R Leone “Boots” Gerochi, Pastor Stanley Clyde Flores, Sheen Marie Mabilog, Jun Capulot, Mor Epinosa, Gene Manuel Ramos, Peter Emil Oñate II, Evony Deveza, and Kesha Pesina.