Fugitives can’t hold elective office, says DILG exec

ILOILO CITY—The fugitive mayor-elect of Mambusao town in Capiz, who is wanted for murder, cannot assume his post even if he has taken his oath of office, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Lawyer Cedric Jaranilla, DILG Western Visayas legal officer, told Inquirer that his office received on July 1 a copy of a notarized oath of office of Leodegario Labao Jr. as mayor of Mambusao town.

The oath was administered and notarized by lawyer Geraldine Ranillo on June 25 in Taguig City.

Jaranilla said there are doubts over the notarized oath because Labao “must be physically present” to take the oath.

Labao has been in hiding after the Mambusao Regional Trial Court Branch 21 in Capiz issued an arrest warrant against him and four others on April 10 in connection with the death of Mambusao Vice Mayor Abel Martinez on May 4 last year.

Police have failed to arrest Labao despite a massive manhunt.

The co-accused of Labao in the case are Geger Francisco, Sunday Danid, Army SSgt. Rommel Pamotillo and Roger Loredo. Only Labao and Francisco remain at large.

Labao has been tagged as the mastermind in the May 4, 2012 killing of Martinez, 79, who died after he was repeatedly shot by a lone gunman outside his house in Mambusao.

Martinez was planning to run as Liberal Party (LP) candidate for mayor when he was killed.

Labao, who ran under the National Unity Party (NUP) which is allied with the United Nationalist Alliance, defeated Sharon Martinez-Martelino (LP), the daughter of the slain vice mayor, and two independent candidates.

Jaranilla said under the Local Government Code, the vice mayor should automatically assume office as acting mayor if the elected mayor could not be physically present to administer his function.

Labao, said Jaranilla, “will not be effective if he is in hiding and if he is arrested if he surfaces.”