By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
The mass oathtaking of local leaders in Western Visayas to the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), the party of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has been rescheduled.
The postponement of the oathtaking was confirmed by Governor Arthur Defensor Jr.
The governor clarified that the event, initially scheduled for April 10, will be rescheduled on a later date due to the unavailability of top officials of the PFP, such as House Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos.
The oathtaking may take place on dates between April 15 to 19, according to Defensor.
The governor has confirmed that Raisa Treñas-Chu, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas’ daughter, has signified her intent to join the president’s political party.
Treñas-Chu is set to run as Iloilo City’s Lone District representative in the 2025 midterm elections.
Her candidacy shadows the two year political tandem of his father and Rep. Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda.
Baronda secured the city’s congressional seat for two consecutive terms, in 2019 and 2022. She has one term left to run for the congress but Baronda’s plans for the upcoming elections remain undisclosed.
On April 3, Baronda was invited to an Appreciation Dinner in the Malacañang, which she described as “an evening of good conversation.”
Without naming names, Defensor mentioned in last week’s press conference that at least 20 mayors from Iloilo have expressed interest in taking the oath under the PFP.
“The direction of the party is to expand. Although it is developing, we have incumbent officials who will join the PFP. We also want to pursue the direction of the party of recruiting incumbent elective officials,” he said.
Defensor said the list of those who will take oath is “dynamic,” and the president’s party will remain open to new members even after the mass oathtaking in Iloilo.
Several local leaders from other provinces in the region, including Iloilo City, will also take oath as members of the PFP.
“There are a few elected officials from other provinces who will join us. I am not yet sure if the numbers will increase but we will accommodate those who want to,” he said.
Defensor joined the president’s political party in August last year. The reason for the political party shift is to bring an “alignment [which] is better for the total development of the province.”
