By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has declined to respond to a statement from Congresswoman Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda’s camp, which said she should not be held responsible for clearing Iloilo City’s drug war issues during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
Treñas explained that he chose not to comment because the statement came from Baronda’s spokesperson, not the congresswoman herself.
“If it’s from her, I’ll answer. But if it’s just her spokesperson, I’ll forgo commenting,” Treñas said in a press conference on Monday. “She’s the one directly involved with Duterte. What does her spokesperson even know?” he added.
Treñas maintained his stance that Baronda should have taken more responsibility in clearing former city mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog from allegations of involvement in illegal drugs.
“I will still say the same thing because it is true. I am not lying,” Treñas emphasized.
The mayor recently shifted the responsibility of helping Mabilog to Baronda, citing her close relationship with the Duterte family and their allies.
At the time of Duterte’s allegations against Mabilog in 2016, Treñas was Iloilo City’s congressman, while Baronda served as Senator JV Ejercito’s chief political officer.
Unlike Baronda, Treñas said he did not have direct access to Duterte or his family and did not have a close working relationship with them.
Pastor Stanley Flores, Baronda’s spokesperson, argued that Treñas was attempting to pass the responsibility onto Baronda to cover up for his own lack of action. Flores claimed Treñas, as the congressman in 2016, failed to defend the city and its people from Duterte’s allegations.
“Mayor Treñas had the sworn duty and moral responsibility to defend the city and its people as the congressman in 2016,” Flores said, adding that Treñas made “no effort, not even a single word” to counter the accusations.
Flores also noted that while Baronda was a private citizen during Duterte’s presidency, she helped Mabilog “to the best of her capacity” and that Mabilog “was aware and appreciative of her efforts.”
