ILOILO – The mass oath-taking ceremony for local officials joining the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., initially scheduled for April 10 in Iloilo City, has been postponed.
The event was to include mayors, vice mayors, city and municipal councilors, provincial board members, and other elected officials from the provinces of Iloilo, Negros Occidental, and Guimaras.
The postponement is due to the unavailability of Antonio Ernesto “Anton” Floirendo Lagdameo Jr., the Special Assistant to the President, and presidential son and Ilocos Norte’s 1st District congressman Sandro Marcos, who had prior commitments, said Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. the PFP regional head.
The PFP prefers the attendance of these key national officials, including South Cotabato’s Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., the party’s president, to the oath-taking.
Consequently, PFP decided to reschedule the event to a date between April 15 and April 19, added Defensor in an interview with Panay News on April 7.
At least 20 incumbent mayors from Iloilo’s 3rd District which is Defensor’s bailiwick, and mayors from the 5th District (Tupas family’s bailiwick), the 4th District (Biron family’s bailiwick), and the 2nd District (Gorriceta family’s bailiwick), are confirmed to join the PFP.
No mayors from the 1st District (Garin family’s bailiwick) have shown interest in joining the PFP as of now.
In addition to local officials from Iloilo, several from Guimaras and Negros Occidental, are confirmed to join the PFP.
In Iloilo City, joining the Marcos party are Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, city councilors, and Raisa Treñas-Chu, daughter of Mayor Jerry Treñas and a declared candidate for congresswoman.
Defensor, however, admitted he had not yet extended an invitation to Iloilo City’s Cong. Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda to join the party, citing the complex political dynamics in the city./PN
