Mayor’s proclamation marred by brother’s death
They waited nearly two years to officially assume office.
Still, yesterday’s proclamation of Compostela Mayor Joel Quiño, Vice Mayor Mary Antonette Dangoy and eight of his municipal councilors was tinged with tragedy.
Quiño’s voice cracked as he thanked supporters after he and the rest of the officials were sworn into office by Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano VI of Cebu’s 5th district in front of the municipal hall at 10 a.m. yesterday.
While he took his oath of office, a wake is held at his home in barangay Poblacion.
His eldest brother engineer Concordio Quiño died of a heart attack after the mayor was declared winner by the Commission on Elections in Manila at 4 p.m. Monday.
The recanvassing of votes, which started late last month, ended a nearly two-year vacancy of Compostela town hall, which had no mayor, vice mayor and council following an election protest filed by former mayor Ritchie Wagas.
Quiño’s supporters, who gathered at the town hall grounds at 9 a.m., cried with the mayor while he made his speech.
Monina Parajang, aunt of Councilor Tessa Cang, said Mayor Quiño was very close to his elder brother.
Before the oath taking, a minute of silence was offered to engineer Quiño and former town mayor Joselito “Cocoy” Reynes. Reynes was Mayor Quiño’s colleague in the Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud) Party.
In his speech, Quiño said he was thankful that he was given a chance to serve his constituents despite the long wait that he and his camp endured for their election dispute case to be resolved.
“We will strive to deliver the basic services owed to you, our constituents, in the limited time that we are given to serve in office,” Quiño told his followers.
The mayor also urged supporters to forget about the feud between them and Wagas’ camp.
“So that we can move on and continue with the projects for the town’s development,” Quiño added.
After the oath taking, Quiño met with Regional Director Ananias Villacorta of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for the turnover.
Villacorta assumed as caretaker-mayor of Compostela town for the past two months.
Durano told reporters that he had no doubts on who were the true winners in the 2010 elections.
“I’m just sad that their rivals didn’t accept their defeat. They did everything they can to stop our elected officials,” he said.
He said he saw for himself how the town deteriorated because of the absence of its local officials.
“I’m happy that today is the start of a new Compostela. It has been a tough two years but it was a battle well fought,” Durano said.
In a separate interview, Mayor Quiño said he’ll meet with the department heads today to identify the town’s needs and prioritize the delivery of basic services to the town’s barangays.
He said he will check on the municipality’s fiscal situation.
Dangoy said she will ask for assistance from the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and for concreting access roads of some mountain barangays.
Also present during yesterday’s oath taking were Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, her son and Danao City Councilor Miguel Antonio Magpale and Provincial Board (PB) member Jude Sybico.
At the Capitol, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia extended her congratulations to the town officials.
She extended her condolences to the mayor’s family and said the Capitol is willing to help the town in whatever capacity.
The Special Municipal Board of Canvassers headed by Consuelo Diola in Manila proclaimed Quiño as Compostela mayor at 4:20 p.m. on Monday.
Other proclaimed winners are Mary Antonette Dangoy as vice mayor and Councilors Josephine Abing, Joy Ann Cabatingan, Tessa Cang, Wilfredo Calo, Homer Canen, Jose Cagang, Alfredo Cabatingan and Francisco Oliverio.
Of the eight councilors, Alfredo Cabatingan was the only winner from Wagas’ camp.
Wagas’ election protest was upheld by the Comelec’s second division even after Quiño and his officials were proclaimed by the local Comelec office.
The Cebu provincial police office said yesterday’s oath-taking ceremony and turnover rites was peaceful. With reports from Correspondents Fe Marie Dumaboc and Gabriel C. Bonjoc
