BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Raisa Treñas-Chu, the executive assistant and daughter of Mayor Jerry Treñas, took her oath as a member of the National Unity Party (NUP).
Mayor Treñas confirmed on his Facebook page that he attended Raisa’s oath-taking as a member of NUP at the Manila Golf and Country Club in Makati City on Saturday, June 29.
The mayor and his daughter also attended the signing of the political alliance between NUP and the ruling Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).
Such a move aligns with Raisa’s strengthening of her bid in Iloilo City’s lone congressional district in the 2025 midterm elections.
Mayor Treñas also serves as the NUP’s Vice President for Special Concerns.
Among those who attended the event were President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., House Speaker Martin Romualdez, PFP president and South Cotabato governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., PFP executive vice president and Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr., NUP president and Camarines Sur 2nd District’s Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr., and NUP chairperson Ronaldo Puno, among others.
The mayor earlier stressed that Raisa decided to join NUP after their meeting in Manila earlier this month. She was previously reported to be interested in joining the PFP.
Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, Councilor Miguel Treñas, and several other incumbent councilors and barangay captains joined the PFP a month ago.
Treñas maintained he would not force his daughter to join any party when she felt a strong opposition to it.
Iloilo City’s two-termer Cong. Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda, erstwhile political ally of Treñas, earlier said she did not consider it as a “threat” had Treñas-Chu decided to join the PFP.
“It’s not a threat for me. In fact, I am not even a Partido Federal (ng Pilipinas). I’m a member of Lakas,” said Baronda.
The congresswoman stressed that a political party has less impact on one’s political career.
“What is important is that your party is there to support your legislation and programs. It’s the people who will decide. It has no direct impact on whatever party you join in your election,” said Baronda.
Baronda, a former member of the National Unity Party, switched parties on May 7 barely two months after she and Mayor Treñas ended their political alliance./PN
