ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Council engaged in a heated session over the call for District Engineer Roy Pacanan’s resignation yesterday, although the embattled official had already stepped down two days earlier.
Pacanan, head of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Iloilo City District Engineering Office, formally submitted his courtesy resignation on September 1 in compliance with Public Works Secretary Vivencio Dizon’s sweeping directive for DPWH district engineers to quit as part of a nationwide “clean sweep.”
“In line with your directive today, and in full support of the President’s vision to streamline the Department in the best interest of the Filipino people, I hereby respectfully tender my courtesy resignation,” read part of Pacanan’s resignation letter, adding it had been his privilege to serve the agency and the public for nearly 25 years.
Yesterday, September 3, the City Council floor turned tense when Councilor Romel Duron pushed a resolution demanding Pacanan’s resignation. But before the measure could even be seconded, Councilor Sheen Marie Mabilog interrupted to ask whether Pacanan had already resigned.
“If a resignation is already pending, then a resolution may be useless,” she said.
Duron, visibly irked, shot back that Mabilog should “ask Pacanan” directly and challenged her with, “Are you with us?”
The exchange quickly escalated into a verbal clash, prompting Vice Mayor Love Baronda to call a recess and order the Sergeant-at-Arms to stand by near the floor.
The move drew criticism from Councilor Alan Zaldivar, who argued Baronda herself should have calmed the members instead of sending security.
Baronda defended her action, saying she had long known Duron to raise his voice during deliberations and was simply defusing the tension.
Duron’s resolution was eventually passed.
Mabilog later clarified that she supported the measure but wanted to avoid redundancy, stressing she only sought clarity on Pacanan’s status./PN
