BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The Office of the Ombudsman has been asked to dismiss Mayor Jerry Treñas from government service, disqualify him from holding public office, and forfeit all his benefits if found guilty over the demolition of the 80-year-old art deco façade of the Iloilo Central Market.
Treñas is facing administrative charges for allegedly consenting to demolish the Central Market facade.
Nereo Lujan, a cultural heritage advocate, filed on July 4 the complaints for grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, conduct unbecoming, and acts prejudicial to the interest of service against Treñas before the Ombudsman-Visayas.
Lujan, also the chief of the Iloilo Provincial Information and Community Affairs Office (PICAO), asked the Ombudsman-Visayas to place Treñas under preventive suspension while the investigation is ongoing.
“The demolition of a historic center in a cultural heritage tourism zone without proper clearance from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) by the respondent constitutes oppression, misconduct in office, dereliction of duty, and abuse of authority in its most basic sense,” read Lujan’s complaint.
Reached for his comment, Treñas maintained that no law was violated when the Office of the Building Official (OBO) issued the permit to demolish the façade.
“We have followed all provisions of all laws on the matter. We are confident no party has violated any law,” said Treñas.
The mayor insisted the city government has “always done everything legally by the PPP (Public-Private Partnership) Law.”
“We are very appreciative of our partnership with SM, one of the most respected conglomerates in the country. We are after only for the best of our beloved Ilonggos of the city. We want the project to be completed on time since the situation of our vendors in the streets is difficult for them,” the mayor said.
The OBO issued the permit to demolish the façade of the building, which is part of the historic central market, as part of the urban redevelopment and modernization plans of the public markets.
The structure, notable for its unique design, symbolized Iloilo City’s historical and cultural identity.
The demolition decision was part of the Central Market and the Iloilo Terminal Market through a public-private partnership with SM Prime Holdings, which aims to modernize the two markets while preserving their historical value.
The NHCP designated Central Market as a Cultural Tourism Heritage Zone in 2013 and a Historic Center through NHCP Resolution No. 3 series 2014.
Republic Act No. 10066, or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, aims to “protect, preserve, conserve and promote the nation’s cultural heritage, its property and histories, and the ethnicity of local communities, and establish and strengthen cultural institutions.”
A letter from then NHCP Chair Rene Escalante dated Feb. 20, 2023, showed that the commission was amenable to the development plans for the Central Market. However, there was no categorical approval to demolish the façade.
“Upon review of the documents and proposed development plans of the old lloilo Central Market, the [NHCP] is amenable to the project since it will restore the original architectural character of the old Iloilo Central Market,” Escalante said in the letter.
Treñas had repeatedly explained the OBO issued the demolition permit before the construction because the structure was no longer structurally safe.
In his complaint, Lujan said the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 calls for the conservation of cultural properties that have been marked by the National Museum and the National Historical Institute before the implementation of the law.
The above law prohibits anyone who “destroys, demolishes, mutilates, or damages any world heritage site, national cultural treasures, important cultural property, and archeological and anthropological sites.”
He also said Treñas failed to comply with the guidelines and requirements for lifting the presumption procedures with the NHCP.
Lujan said the mayor was even the one who signed the application for demolition.
“The respondent’s act of demolishing the Art Deco Iloilo Central Market without any clearance from the National Historic Commission of the Philippines is ignorance of and contrary to law,” read Lujan’s complaint.
The Capitol information chief said Treñas committed grave misconduct for allowing the demolition of the Art Deco without any clearance and approval from the NHCP, which established rules for the demolition of the heritage and cultural tourism buildings.
“Respondent clearly beyond the scope of his authority and power when he circumvented the law by the destruction and demolition of a heritage structure which is protected by law to be conserved and preserved,” said Lujan.
Likewise, Lujan said Treñas committed conduct unbecoming and prejudicial to the best interest of public service when he decided to use his authority to demolish the structure despite the absence of approval from NHCP.
As the mayor, Lujan said Treñas must protect the city and its constituents as well as the historical structures that were declared as historic centers.
He said the mayor betrayed the public trust when he failed to protect and uphold the law for the preservation and conservation of historical structures.
“Undoubtedly, not following the laws and processes that protect Iloilo Central Market, a prominent part of the historic center, before it may be demolished is a betrayal of the public’s trust,” said Lujan./PN
