Doña Remedios Trinidad (DRT) town in Bulacan continues to have two mayors, which may have eroded their political alliance.
Vice Mayor Jayvie C. Manalo assumed the mayoral seat, taking his oath of office on February 17 before Bulacan Executive Judge Renato Francisco, after the Bulacan Provincial Board suspended Mayor Rolando T. Flores.
But Flores has stayed at his post, and has maintained his official duties while he appeals his suspension for alleged conflict of interest and abuse of authority regarding illicit mining operations in the municipality, Manalo said.
Manalo said he has not confronted the mayor yet owing to their political bond.
Running mates
He won as Flores’ running mate under the Liberal Party-Del Pilar Party alliance during the 2010 polls.
However, Flores’ continued stay at the town hall has caused division and confusion in the town, Manalo claimed. “He still signs documents, including the town hall’s pay roll,” he said.
Reached by the Inquirer, Flores admitted that his political ties with Manalo have been severed, although he described their official relationship as “civil.”
“The 2013 election is still in the future, so we are both busy serving the public. We remain civil. Much like a married couple that separated because we each have different outlooks about life,” Flores said.
“We have no enmity. Our political paths have deviated but this should not be perceived as personal differences),” the suspended mayor added.
Flores said he decided to stay at work because he appealed to the provincial board to reconsider his suspension.
Conflict of interest
The provincial board voted to suspend Flores for six months on January 31, after affirming charges of conflict of interest and abuse of authority, and for committing grounds for disciplinary action in violation of Section 60 of the Local Government Code (Republic Act No. 7160) and Section 7 of Republic Act No. 6317 (the law prescribing ethical standards for public officials).
Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado signed the suspension order on February 15.
On February 20, Flores formally asked the board to review its decision.
Flores said he may consider elevating his case before Malacañang. But until his legal remedies are exhausted, Flores insists, “Ako pa rin ang mayor (I am still the mayor).”
Vice Governor Daniel Fernando acknowledged receiving Flores’ appeal.
“We received his appeal but the board will no longer deliberate on it because we already made our decision. The resolution was passed and it must be implemented,” Fernando said.
Jeffrey Cruz, the Bulacan legal officer, said the suspension against Flores was duly executed, and the provincial government informed all institutions transacting with the government, including banks, about Flores’ status.
Complaint
Asked about reports that Flores continues to sign financial documents on behalf of the municipal government, Cruz said: “That would be difficult for him. He could be accused and charged [for] malversation of funds. The municipal treasurer’s office of DRT [had] also provided the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial council) a copy of the suspension order against him.”
Flores’ suspension was the result of a complaint filed by DRT resident Roberto Sembrano in November last year, who implicated the mayor in illegal mining at Barangay (village) Camachin because his family’s trucking firm had allegedly been used to haul out iron ore extracted by a mining firm here.
The mayor has denied this.—Carmela Reyes-Estrope