Iloilo City solon's official portraits removed, replaced with daughter of mayor
By Tara Yap
ILOILO CITY – Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda of this city expressed sadness over the removal and replacement of her official portrait in a barangay hall here.

THE portrait of Raisa Treñas-Chu (right), the daughter of Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, hangs inside the Barangay Lopez Jaena Hall in Jaro District in lieu of Rep. Julienne ‘Jamjam’ Baronda. (Courtesy of MS)
“As public officials, we should be models of ‘delicadeza’ and propriety. The act of replacing the portrait undermines these principles and degrades the value of respect for duly elected officials,” said Baronda in a statement on Wednesday, July 31.
Baronda issued the statement after a photo showed that her portrait at the Barangay Lopez Jaena Hall in Jaro District was replaced with that of Raisa Treñas-Chu, the daughter of Mayor Jerry Treñas.
The framed photo of Raisa hanged alongside portraits of Mayor Treñas and Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon.
“This erodes the trust and respect of the people in our public institutions,” said Baronda.
This was not the first time that Baronda’s official portrait has been removed and replaced with that of Raisa, who is working at the Iloilo City Hall as one of the mayor’s executive assistants.
There were several incidents, including one in Barangay Calumpang in Molo District last June.
Raisa is poised to run against Baronda. Mayor Treñas announced last March that Raisa will replace Baronda who is still eligible to run for a third term.
Mayor Treñas has stepped up political attacks against Baronda starting March. He cancelled seven projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) lobbied by Baronda.
“Our 1987 Constitution states that public office is a public trust. It is not a family corporation or a kingdom where respect, delicadeza, and propriety can be trampled upon just to obey the powers that be,” added Baronda.