Ousted Lucena mayor gets reprieve from Supreme Court

LUCENA CITY, Philippines—Four days after being told by the Commission on Elections to vacate her office on grounds she was not validly elected, Lucena Mayor Barbara Ruby Talaga received a reprieve from the Supreme Court on Tuesday in the form of a “status quo ante” order that would legally pave her return to office.

Former Mayor Ramon Talaga Jr., the mayor’s husband, said he received a phone call from the Supreme Court informing him of the high court’s order.

Vice Mayor Roderick Alcala, who has been acting as city mayor since Friday afternoon, confirmed Talaga’s information.

“I will step down and reassume my old post as vice mayor. There’s no problem with that,” Alcala said over the phone.

According to Talaga, who now serves as city administrator, majority of the high court justices signed the order.

“God is really good. He really won’t allow that a great injustice will prevail to frustrate the will of our people,” Talaga said over the phone.

Barbara was not around during the phone interview. Her staff said she was praying.

A “status quo ante” order means that the situation is made to revert back to how things were before the Comelec enforced its May 20 resolution disqualifying Mayor Barbara Talaga.

Last Friday, representatives of the poll body implemented the order to unseat Barbara and be replaced by Alcala, who later took his oath of office before a Lucena judge.

The May 20 Comelec decision said Barbara’s proclamation and election last year was illegal, and ordered her to vacate her post in favor of Alcala in accordance with the rule of succession.

The Comelec said her candidacy was invalid when she substituted for her husband, Ramon, because he had not yet withdrawn his certificate of candidacy when she filed her own certificate on May 4, 2010.

The mayor contested the Comelec decision before the Supreme Court, asking for a temporary restraining order or status quo ante order to block implementation of the poll body’s order.