By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has called for a lifestyle check on Department of Public Works and Highways Iloilo City District Engineering Office (DPWH-ICDEO) officer-in-charge Roy Pacanan, citing the latter’s allegedly excessive security detail.
In a radio interview on Wednesday, March 26, Treñas claimed Pacanan has close-in security, including armed escorts and armored vehicles, which he said are excessive even compared to the DPWH-6 regional director and the department secretary.
“Pacanan has three bodyguards, and his vehicle is bulletproof. What is he hiding in that car? Is he carrying something important? Three bodyguards, all armed,” Treñas said.
He further alleged that Pacanan’s vehicle is not only bulletproof but also bombproof.
“He should undergo a lifestyle check. He’s just a district engineer, yet he has three bodyguards,” he added.
Treñas also claimed that Pacanan’s assistant district engineer uses a similarly armored vehicle.
The mayor urged the Commission on Elections to look into the security detail, noting the ongoing nationwide gun ban in connection with the 2025 midterm elections, which runs from Jan. 12 to June 11.
The accusations come amid an ongoing conflict between the city government and the district engineer over alleged delays in ICDEO infrastructure projects.
Treñas said Pacanan should respond to city government inquiries, stressing that the projects are funded by taxpayers.
“They should do their jobs properly because it will be a waste of government funds if it’s the other way around. That’s taxpayers’ money, not theirs. […] Now we find out about the bulletproof and bombproof vehicles — are we paying for that too?” he said.
On March 13, Treñas wrote to DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, formally requesting an investigation into project delays under ICDEO’s jurisdiction.
He said the letter was submitted at Bonoan’s request to formalize the complaint.
The city government flagged several unfinished projects, including the Mandurriao Public Market and multi-purpose buildings in Barangays Concepcion, Tanza Esperanza, Katilingban, North Fundidor, Balantang, and San Isidro in Jaro District.
On March 21, Pacanan dismissed the mayor’s statements as a “political sleight of hand,” calling the allegations part of a broader effort to deflect blame from the city’s own shortcomings.
He also accused Treñas of spreading unverified claims on social media about the agency’s alleged lack of coordination.
