BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Councilor Urminico “Nick” Baronda lost three of his committee chairmanships barely 23 days after his daughter, Rep. Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda, and Mayor Jerry Treñas parted ways politically.
This came after the Iloilo City Council yesterday approved majority floor leader Frances Grace Parcon’s proposal to declare vacant all committee chairmanships during their special session.
Majority members of the city council unanimously approved Parcon’s manifestation and subsequently designated the committees chaired by Baronda to their co-chairpersons.
Councilor Alan Zaldivar now chairs the Committee on Health, Sanitation and Hospital Services, while Councilor Rudolph Jeffrey Ganzon heads the Committee on Education, Science, and Technology.
Councilor Jose Maria Miguel Treñas, the mayor’s son, is now the chair of the Committee on Information, Technology and Computerization.
In his speech, Councilor Baronda said he had no “any personal animosity” or hard feelings towards his colleagues, despite a unanimous decision by the council.
He held the above three committees for more than a year before these were removed from his duties.
Interviewed after the session, Baronda said he was thankful to the city council for allowing him to serve the three committees for almost two years.
But he hinted that his committee chairmanships would not have been removed had not been “influenced” by somebody. He refused to drop his name.
“I asked them (council) what was the compelling reason (for the removal of his committee chairmanships) but they could not answer me,” said Baronda.
The city councilor promised to continue supporting the above committee despite not being the chairperson. “I have delivered the tasks in those committees. As far as my committees are concerned, I have no backlogs,” said Baronda.
Baronda also said the council’s decision to remove his committee chairmanships helped him considering that the contracts of 19 of his 21 job order personnel have not been renewed. The former city health officer said his family has yet to decide on their next political move.
In his previous press briefing, Mayor Treñas said the removal of committee chairmanships from a perceived opposition official is a normal course of action in politics.
“Every time there was a shift of alliance, there would always be change,” Treñas said.
Last March 16, Treñas announced that his daughter and executive assistant, Raisa Treñas-Chu, would be his official candidate for congresswoman in the upcoming midterm elections. He also confirmed a meeting with Cong. Baronda, who expressed respect for his decision.
Treñas was instrumental in Baronda winning the city’s congressional seat in 2019 and 2022.
On the same day, Baronda acknowledged her meeting with Treñas, describing it as “sincere and honest” but did not disclose further details.
She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve as the city’s congresswoman but remained silent on her plans for the 2025 elections, cautioning that “giving in to political division and letting our beloved city’s future get derailed would be a grave mistake.”/PN
