By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas on Wednesday, April 16, denied social media claims that he ordered Job Hires and Contract of Service workers to attend mass with his Team Uswag slate.
The allegations stemmed from a sponsored social media post by a group called Ilonggos for Positive Change Movement.
“I did not order or call on anyone to join the mass,” Treñas said in a statement.
“Let me be clear that no such instruction came from me, and no government resources are being used to force anyone to participate in any religious or political gathering,” he added.
The post alleged that text messages and online instructions were circulating, requiring city hall workers to join mayoral candidate Raisa Treñas-Chu, the mayor’s daughter and former executive assistant, in attending a religious mass.
It also claimed that an executive assistant to the mayor instructed supporters from one barangay to wear blue shirts.
Treñas denounced the disinformation and took a swipe at its alleged source.
“This is fake news, as usual—fake news, fake nose, fake body,” he said.
“We know where these lies are coming from. [They are] really desperate.”
He urged the public to remain alert and critical of propaganda.
“Do not let yourselves be misled by malicious and baseless propaganda,” Treñas said.
“Let’s all focus on what really matters—service to the people, good governance and progress for Iloilo City.”
This is not the first time Team Uswag has called out content from the Ilonggos for Positive Change Movement.
Earlier this month, reelectionist Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon denied accusations of nepotism and hiring ghost employees in his office, following two press releases sponsored by the same group.
Daily Guardian also tracked two additional press releases from the group targeting Team Uswag.
One alleged that a male suspect in a drug buy-bust was the son of a city hall employee and an Uswag barangay leader.
Another linked two male drug suspects to Councilor Rudolf Ganzon’s family, claiming they were in-laws and possibly casual employees of the city government.
This is also not the first instance of sponsored content being used ahead of the 2025 midterm elections.
Daily Guardian has previously reported on similar posts sponsored by a group named Ilonggo Graft Watch, which also targeted Treñas and Ganzon on social media.