Pacanan slams city mayor’s camp over ‘relief order’ reports

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

 

Iloilo City District Engineering Office officer-in-charge Roy Pacanan lambasted what he called a “political demolition” campaign from the camp of Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu following reports that he had been relieved from his post.

On Wednesday morning, August 13, reports circulated claiming Pacanan was removed from office in August, citing confirmation from city hall officials, particularly Councilor Jose Maria Dela Llana.

Joy Fantilaga-Gorzal, Treñas-Chu’s spokesperson, said Pacanan “deserves” his fate if his removal from office is confirmed.

“There is no Special Order or written directive to that effect,” Pacanan clarified in a statement, saying the city government “irresponsibly leaked” to the media his official status.

Pacanan said Treñas-Chu may have assumed his removal following the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Memorandum Circular No. 54, Series of 2025, issued on August 12.

The circular contains a copy of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Resolution No. 2500358 dated April 30, 2025. The subject of this circular is the “2025 Omnibus Rules on Appointments and Other Human Resource Actions.”

The CSC resolution outlines a comprehensive, updated guide on appointments, promotions, reassignments, and other personnel actions within the civil service.

“Unlike (Treñas-Chu) who relies on unverified information, I am a public servant who abides by legal orders from truthful sources,” Pacanan said.

The ICDEO chief said he will continue to discharge his functions pending verified action from the DPWH central office and the CSC.

Fantilaga-Gorzal responded that the city mayor’s office only learned of Pacanan’s alleged relief from office during a live radio interview and has not received any official document or directive on the matter.

She further stressed that while the city welcomes actions that benefit Iloilo City, accusations without basis “serve no purpose other than to distract from the real issues.”

“If such a relief order indeed exists, he may deserve it, and the public can be assured that it would be based on lawful grounds and due process, not political vendetta,” she added.

Pacanan has been subject to criticisms from the city government regarding delays and coordination problems over infrastructure projects in Iloilo City.

The conflict has escalated to political tensions, where the City Council considered declaring him again as persona non grata due to his refusal to attend a recent quad committee hearing regarding waterway projects.

Pacanan cited the lack of legal authority of the City Council to conduct an “in aid of legislation” investigation in refusing to attend the hearing.

In a privilege speech in the regular session on Wednesday, Councilor Rex Marcus Sarabia said he personally took no offense at Pacanan’s non-participation but stressed that he was “offended” by the latter’s disregard for the City Council’s mandate.

“Our actions as elected officials carry great weight as our mandate is directly from the people,” he said.

“There is no question that when we lawmakers investigate the causes of the flooding in this city […] we are exercising this for the benefit of the public. There is no political color in this legislative exercise, as this crisis does not isolate or discriminate against any specific individual or groups of people,” he added.

Sarabia acknowledged that the City Council has no control over national government agencies such as the DPWH but emphasized that it remains a legislative body with its own responsibilities.