2 rival mayors lead Panglao town rite

Pedro Fuertes (third from right) and Leonila Montero (left), who both claim to be the legitimate mayor of Panglao, Bohol, attend the town’s flag-raising ceremony on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. INQUIRER VISAYAS / LEO UDTOHAN

PANGLAO, Bohol – Monday’s flag raising ceremony in the municipality was attended by Pedro Fuertes and Leonila Montero, who both claimed to be mayors.

Both gave their speeches before the employees.

Montero told employees that her comeback was based on facts.

“The fact is I am the duly reelected mayor of Panglao,” she said. “I have already served my legal predicaments.”

On the other hand, Fuertes just told employees that he would wait for the DILG order.

“I am just waiting for the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) for whatever decision,” said Fuertes.

Pedro Fuertes speaks to media after the flag-raising rite on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. INQUIRER VISAYAS / LEO UDTOHAN

The town was plunged into chaos when both Fuertes and Montero claimed to be the legitimate mayor of the town.

Last Monday, Sept. 10, Montero resumed her duties as mayor following the decision if the appellate court. She invoked Section 46 of the Local Government Code.

The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) also approved a resolution acknowledging her re-assumption and reinstating her as a signatory to the bank accounts of the local government unit.

Leonila Montero (right) is interviewed by media on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. INQUIRER VISAYAS / LEO UDTOHAN

Montero said the Court of Appeals has reinstated her but Fuertes, who assumed the mayorship after Montero’s dismissal by the Ombudsman, is not stepping down until ordered by the court and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

The municipality has two administrators: Alejandro Arbotante, the town’s market administrator who represents Montero, and Emmanuel Lagura who was appointed by Fuertes.

The SB council on Monday voted that Vice Mayor Briccio Velasco remained as the temporary presiding officer.

It was only in Panglao town that it has two mayors, two municipal administrators, one municipal Vice-Mayor and one town hall.

Fuertes holds office at the second floor, while Montero occupies her original office on the ground floor.

Montero was dismissed for three months last Oct. 24, 2017, by then Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales. She was found guilty of simple misconduct for appointing four defeated candidates less than a year after losing in the elections.

According to the Office of the Ombudsman, Montero hired the four as consultants in July 2013, just two months after they lost in the May polls, without executing any contract of service or issuance of any appointment paper duly reviewed and approved by the town council.

There is a one-year prohibition on the appointment of a candidate who lost in the election.

After the Ombudsman’s order of dismissal, Montero immediately appealed the decision to the courts. The appellate court modified the allegation from “grave misconduct” to “simple misconduct” punishable with a three months suspension which Montero claimed she already served.

The DILG installed Fuertes, the town’s vice mayor, as acting mayor after the Ombudsman ordered a three-month suspension on Montero.

But even before completing the three-month suspension, the antigraft office upgraded the charge to grave misconduct and ordered her dismissal from service on Jan. 19, 2018.

Montero sought relief from the Court of Appeals which issued an order on June 28 that affirmed her three-month suspension and set aside her dismissal from service.

Since she had served her suspension, Montero said she could already resume her functions as mayor.

Meanwhile, Augustin Cloribel, filed a complaint against Montero on Thursday, Sept. 3, at the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor for usurpation of authority and official functions.

The SB members -Vice Mayor Briccio Velasco, councilors Amira Alia Montero, Noel Hormachuelos, Dennis Hora, Cresente Arbutante, Rogelin Degoma, Yolando Hormachuelos, ABC president Jose Arbitrario, and SK municipal federated president Jonah Loretero- were also charged for usurpation of authority and official functions and usurpation of judicial functions. /cbb