Mayors Jerry Treñas of Iloilo City and Alfredo “Albee” Benitez of Bacolod City have publicly backed the sentiments of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos against Vice President Sara Duterte.
FIRST Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Mayor Jerry Treñas during the 2023 Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City. Behind them is House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. (Mayor Jerry Treñas FB)
“We empathize with the First Lady as she expresses her disappointment that the Vice President attends rallies where the President is criticized,” said Treñas and Benitez in a joint statement.
They issued the statement after the First Lady said on April 19 that Duterte crossed the line as her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, stepped up allegations of drug use by her husband President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“It seems inappropriate for a Vice President, who campaigned under the same party banner as the President, to participate in such events and react with amusement to the attacks,” Treñas and Benitez noted.
Treñas also issued a statement calling for Duterte to resign as Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd). “If a Cabinet Secretary cannot give full and complete support to the President who appointed him or her, the best and only option available is to resign,” Treñas said.
But there were questions on the timing of the statements, particularly that from Treñas who strongly campaigned against Marcos in the 2022 presidential elections.
The April 10 mass oathtaking of Iloilo politicians for ruling party Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) was postponed.
The oathtaking was much-awaited as the mayor’s daughter, Raisa Treñas-Chu, was scheduled to take her oath as an PFP member.
The mayor announced on March 15 that Raisa is running for this city’s lone congressional seat to replace Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda who is on her second term.
While Raisa was seen in practically all events of the Iloilo City government, Treñas said that he might instead run for congressman and his daughter for mayor just to beat Baronda.
The mayor’s statement came from informal surveys indicating that city voters are not keen on supporting Raisa.