ILOILO CITY – Iloilo and this city are no longer a bailiwick of the Liberal Party (LP) after around 800 officials in the province officially joined the ruling party Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).
Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Ernesto F. Lagdameo Jr. witnessed the mass oathtaking of town, city, and barangay officials on Sunday, June 2, after almost two months of postponement.

MORE than 800 officials in the province and city of Iloilo were sworn in as members of the ruling party Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) on Sunday, June 2, 2024. (Tara Yap)
PFP National President Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. of South Cotabato presided over the oathtaking.
Iloilo Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr., PFP regional chairperson for Western Visayas, administered the oath-taking of barangay officials.
While majority of elected Ilonggo officials did not back the presidency of Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in 2022, they now have come out in stronger numbers.
Defensor said that the party switch is beneficial for the people of the province and this city, especially in getting shares from national government projects.
Tamayo said that PFP had found it hard to penetrate Iloilo’s political scene. “But this is a big change in the political (landscape).”
Among the guests were Mayor Jerry Treñas of this city, who previously announced that his daughter Raisa Treñas-Chu would join the ruling party. But that plan has been called off.
Others were Uswag Ilonggo party-list Rep. James “Jojo” Ang Jr., Guimaras Gov. JC Rahman Nava, Guimaras Rep. Maria Lucille Ledesma-Nava, and former Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr.