By Tracy Cabrera
MANILA — Iloilo City Vice Mayor Lady Julie Grace “Love-Love” Baronda has vowed to challenge what she described as a “reign of tyranny” after the city council’s majority bloc voted to restrict her participation in legislative proceedings.
Under the new arrangement, Baronda remains the council’s presiding officer but can no longer introduce legislative proposals or take part in deliberations during council sessions. She also has no committee assignments.
The restrictions followed the council majority’s October 21 adoption of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Opinion No. 95, which deals with Section 49 of the Local Government Code of 1991.
The provision states that a vice mayor, as presiding officer of the city council, may vote only to break a tie. The council majority cited this provision in deciding to curtail Baronda’s legislative participation.
Baronda, however, accused allies of Mayor Raisa Treñas of using the legal interpretation to advance political interests. She also pointed to the continued presence of former Mayor Jerry Treñas, the incumbent mayor’s father, at City Hall.
The dispute comes amid a reported political rift between the mayor and the vice mayor. Baronda is the younger sister of incumbent Iloilo City Rep. Julienne “Jam-Jam” Baronda. The political split reportedly dates back to the 2025 elections, when Treñas allegedly sought to have his daughter replace the congresswoman.
“This is tyranny. They have a pattern of bullying me since last year,” Baronda said, accusing the administration of intimidation.
She also recalled an incident in which, she alleged, the mayor sent police personnel after she and her staff were told to vacate their original office. The space was later assigned to the mayor’s executive assistants, who do not hold elective positions.
The council’s action and Baronda’s allegations underscore the deepening political conflict within Iloilo City Hall.
