ILOILO CITY – Mayor Jerry Treñas announced in a press conference on Friday, March 15, that daughter Raisa Treñas-Chu is running for Congress representing this city's lone district in next year's local elections.
MAYOR Jerry Treñas (center) with his daughter Raisa Treñas-Chu (left) and Rep. James 'Jojo' Ang Jr. during the announcement of her candidacy for Iloilo City congresswoman on Friday, March 15. (Arnold Almacen/CMO)
Treñas said that incumbent Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda has agreed not to run for a third and final term in 2025 to give way to his daughter.
Baronda issued a separate statement confirming the announcement made by Treñas.
“We respect Mayor Jerry Treñas as our leader. We had a sincere and honest conversation on various topics when I met with him this morning,” said Baronda in a statement posted on her official Facebook page.
“I think giving in to political division and letting our beloved city's future get derailed would be a grave mistake,” Baronda added.
Since last year, there have been speculations that Raisa might run for mayor to replace her father amid claims that he is sickly, especially after undergoing angioplasty procedure late last year.
Since Treñas became mayor again in 2019, his daughter Raisa has been a fixture at Iloilo City Hall.
During the 2022 elections, Raisa was the second nominee for the Uswag Ilonggo party-list, which the city mayor founded. However, she did not win a seat.
Last year, Raisa was seen accompanying her father in most official functions as well as physically representing him in other functions.
Early this year, posters with Raisa’s face had been seen all over the city. The mayor’s son Miguel is an incumbent city councilor.