ILOILO – A mass oath taking is scheduled for April 10 for mayors and other elected officials from the city and province of Iloilo, including those from Negros Occidental, who wish to join the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), the political party of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., the PFP regional party chairman, confirmed the mass oath taking but added that the venue is yet to be determined.
At least 20 mayors from Iloilo have expressed interest to take the oath, said Defensor without naming them.
Political allies from since the 2019 elections, including members from the National Unity Party (NUP) and Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-LABAN) consisting of Sangguniang Bayan and Provincial Board members, will be sworn in, too, Defensor added.
“As part of the party’s direction to expand, we welcome incumbent officials. This is in line with the party’s strategy of recruiting incumbents,” he further said.
Even after the mass oath taking on April 10, the party will remain open to those interested to join, Defensor said.
He admitted that no incumbent mayor from Iloilo’s 1st District have shown interest in joining the PFP, nor have any House of Representatives members from the province, including his brother, 3rd District’s Cong. Lorenz Defensor.
But Defensor confirmed that Raisa Treñas-Chu, daughter of Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas, will participate in the mass oath taking.
Treñas-Chu has already declared her candidacy for congresswoman of Iloilo City for the May 2025 elections.
Mayor Treñas, however, will remain with the National Unity Party, said Defensor.
Several incumbent Iloilo City councilors will also be taking their oaths for the PFP on April 10, though no further names were disclosed.
“We will also have participants from other provinces,” said Defensor./PN
