VICE Mayor Lady Julie Grace “Love-Love” Baronda denied allegations that her staff stayed overnight at the third floor of the Legislative Building.
She also questioned the sudden occupation of the same area by personnel from the City Agriculturist Office without a clear directive.
“Our office did not stay overnight in the legislative building,” Baronda said in a statement, clarifying that her staff only stayed until around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1, to prepare the office for occupancy.
“We were surprised by a representative of the City Agriculturist Office and City Legal Office, accompanied by a police officer, who treated our staff like criminals,” she added.
Baronda said her staff requested documentation proving that the office was designated for another department, but none was provided. Despite this, they proceeded with cleaning and preparation.
She added that by 7 a.m. the next day, furniture from the City Agriculturist Office had already been moved in without any notice or legal basis presented.
According to Baronda, the June 11, 2025, memorandum from then Mayor Jerry Treñas did not include the City Agriculturist Office among those assigned to occupy the third floor.
“If we are being restricted within the Legislative Building itself, where else can we function?” she asked.
In response, Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas, in an official statement and memorandum order issued on July 2, reiterated her authority as mayor to assign and allocate office spaces in city-owned buildings, based on the Local Government Code of 1991.
“The mayor has the final prerogative on the utilization of workspaces,” Treñas said.
She clarified that the office Baronda intended to occupy had already been assigned to the City Agriculture Office and other task forces, such as the Task Force on Moral Values Formation and Task Force ASIS, which have long lacked permanent spaces. These groups submitted their requests earlier, according to the mayor.
Treñas also emphasized that the term “Legislative Building” does not imply exclusive use by the legislative department.
"Gusto ko lang klaruhon ang term nga ginagamit nga ‘Legislative’ building. Based sa aton Local Government Code of 1991, ang local chief executive, ang mayor may gahum nga mag-allocate kag mag-assign sang office space sa mga opisyal kag empleyado sang syudad nga entitled sa amo sina nga espasyo, whether sa city hall ukon sa iban nga buildings nga ginapanag-iyahan ukon ginapa-rentahan sang city government," Trenas said.
(I just want to clarify the term used ‘Legislative’ building. Based on our Local Government Code of 1991, the local chief executive, the mayor has the power to allocate and assign office space to city officials and employees who are entitled to such space, whether in the city hall or in other buildings owned or rented by the city government.)
“Gusto man naton ipanugyan nga ang pag-assign sang mga rooms ukon opisina, indi na sakop sang vice mayor. Responsibilidad ina sang mayor bilang local chief executive,” she added.
(We would also like to suggest that the assignment of rooms or offices is no longer the responsibility of the vice mayor. That is the responsibility of the mayor as local chief executive.)
In the same memorandum, Treñas confirmed the allocation of the entire sixth floor -- covering 590 square meters -- for the Office of the Vice Mayor.
She added that the archive or library room would be relocated to accommodate the additional request for space.
"Bilang sabat sa request ni Baronda nga dugang nga espasyo, ipaggamit naton ang bilog nga 6th floor sa Office of the Vice Mayor, samtang ang archive/library room sayluhon naton kun diin pwede," Treñas said.
(In response to Baronda's request for additional space, we will use the entire sixth floor for the Office of the Vice Mayor, while the archive/library room will be moved wherever possible.)
The new directive supersedes any previous orders inconsistent with the current memorandum and is issued for strict compliance.
"This directive clarifies the official office assignments within the 'Multi-Purpose Building' and revoke any previous orders inconsistent with this memorandum," Treñas said.
Treñas reaffirmed her authority to allocate and assign office spaces in the Legislative Building through a formal response dated July 2, 2025, following a letter addressed to his office by Baronda and other city officials on July 1.
In his response, Treñas emphasized that his decision was based on provisions under Section 455(b)(1)(ix) of the Local Government Code, which grants the city mayor the power to “allocate and assign office space to city and other officials and employees who, by law or ordinance, are entitled to such.”
“This authority is not discretionary, but a mandated duty under the law for effective and efficient governance,” Treñas stated in the letter. “As city mayor, it is my legal responsibility to supervise and control all programs, projects, services, and activities of the city government, including office assignments.”
Treñas addressed his letter to Baronda, the City Council members, Engineer Mavi J. Gustillo of the Office of the Building Official, and John Francisco M. Pe Jr. of the Office of the Building Administrator.
The letter acknowledged receipt of the July 1 correspondence and underscored the legal basis of the mayor’s actions, despite previous discussions on the matter. (Leo Solinap)