City Councilor Jose Maria Dela Llana publicly apologized to the Iloilo City Hall Press Corps (ICHPC) following remarks he made during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod on March 11, 2026, regarding media coverage of government assistance for distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The apology came after Councilor Sheen Marie Mabilog filed an ordinance seeking to institutionalize financial support for repatriated and deported OFWs affected by war, armed conflict, political instability, or similar crises.
During the session, Dela Llana clarified his earlier statements, emphasizing that the City of Iloilo actively implements programs for OFWs and that he did not intend to suggest otherwise.
“Indi ko gusto nga magsala ang headline,” Dela Llana said, stressing that his comments were not directed at media personnel and were made without malice or “bad faith.”
He explained that he only intended to highlight existing government initiatives for OFWs and did not want coverage to imply the city was inactive in providing assistance.
“During that time, gusto ko lang ipabalo nga may ara government ta sang nagakaigo nga mga programa para sa mga OFW,” the councilor said, calling the incident a lesson for him.
Earlier, the ICHPC expressed concern over Dela Llana’s remarks, noting that they could cast doubt on journalists’ integrity and undermine their role as government watchdogs, protected under the 1987 Constitution.
The group also requested that the Sangguniang Panlungsod Secretariat remove the comments from the official session record.
The apology marks an effort to clarify the councilor’s intent while reaffirming the city government’s commitment to assisting OFWs and maintaining a constructive relationship with the press.IMT
