Davao town has two mayors, one in jail

MATANAO, Davao del Sur – This town has two mayors.

This is so because Mayor Butch Fernandez refuses to vacate his post even if he is in jail for his alleged involvement in the 2010 killing of journalist Nestor Bedolido.

Vice Mayor Elmer Javelona assumed the post last Oct. 20, the same day a local court issued a warrant for Fernandez’ arrest in connection with the newsman’s killing.

Abito Bernasor, provincial officer of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, said only the court can settle the issue because Fernandez was not facing any administrative case.

Last Friday afternoon, Fernandez was seen holding a meeting with officials of Barangay (village) Tamlangon inside the office of Senior Insp. Elmer Cabuslay, the town’s chief of police.

Fernandez refused to give a statement, but in an earlier interview, he said he would hold office at the police station “until the final resolution of our case is resolved by the proper court.”

But employees of the local government are confused about whom to follow.

Javelona said he was only following the order of Aurora Corpuz, DILG cluster head, for him to assume the job of mayor because Fernandez was incapable of performing his duties. Fernandez had checked into a hospital a day before he was ordered arrested and remained there for some time.

On Nov. 8, Corpuz issued an order saying: “By law of succession, legally, Mayor Fernandez is physically incapacitated as he is now under hospital arrest for more than 10 days. By operation of the law, the vice mayor will assume as acting mayor of the town since we could not determine as to when he could get out from the hospital, and the time he will stay in prison is still indefinite.”

Fernandez faces a murder charge in connection with Bedolido’s killing, along with former Davao del Sur Gov. Douglas Cagas, and alleged Cagas henchmen Bado Sanchez and Ali Ordaneza.

Cagas has been detained at the Digos City district jail while Sanchez and Ordaneza remain at large.

Cagas, the alleged mastermind behind Bedolido’s death, was returned to jail on Tuesday last week after undergoing a battery of tests at a Davao City hospital.