Treñas reveals pancreatic cancer diagnosis, says treatment is working

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Former Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has publicly confirmed that he has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

“Yes, actually, in my post on Facebook, it was clear that I have cancer — it is in my pancreas,” Treñas said in a radion interview on Monday, March 16.

Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor that forms in the tissues of the pancreas, a gland behind the stomach that aids digestion and blood sugar regulation. It is considered one of the most aggressive forms of cancer, with a five-year survival rate of about 10 to 12 percent, according to the American Cancer Society.

Treñas said he is scheduled for another chemotherapy session on Thursday, explaining that the treatment is done regularly to target and destroy cancer cells.

He said the therapy has helped contain the disease, noting that his latest positron emission tomography scan showed encouraging results.

A PET scan is an imaging test that detects metabolic activity in tissues to highlight cancer cells, commonly used to monitor the effectiveness of cancer treatment.

“In my last PET scan, my doctors are happy, and I hope that my good recovery will continue,” he said.

According to Treñas, the scan indicated that the cancer is responding to chemotherapy.

“That means that the cancer is responsive to the chemotherapy. If wala nag gamay sa pet scan, it means that it is not responsive,” he said.

The former mayor also expressed gratitude to supporters who continue to pray for his recovery.

“We are praying continuously that this will be gone, and I am thankful for everyone who prays for me […] while I am undergoing medication, prayers also have a big effect,” he said.

On Thursday, Treñas will also launch his memoir, “Nobody But Jerry.”

Treñas said the launch will be attended by guests from the business sector, City Hall employees, friends, and former classmates.

However, attendance will be limited since he is currently immunocompromised due to his medical treatment.

“We cannot have more people in the launch because I am immunocompromised. We have to make sure that I will not be affected by any infection,” he said.

“Nobody But Jerry” will recount the former mayor’s life from his early years as a private citizen to his decades in public service.

The book traces his journey beginning in 1986, when he was appointed as an officer-in-charge city councilor, through the experiences that eventually led to his final term as mayor of Iloilo City in 2025.

Treñas served multiple terms as Iloilo City mayor and as representative of the city’s lone congressional district, making him one of the longest-serving political figures in the city’s modern history.

“My journey is part of the journey of Iloilo City,” he said.

The memoir is expected to be available by late March or early April in selected bookstores in Metro Manila and other outlets.