3 Calbayog City councilors resign ahead of term end

TACLOBAN CITY—Three Calbayog City councilors have tendered their resignations, a move that “surprised” the provincial head of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Charlie Coñejos, Cesar Sabenecio, and Billy Martirez have until June 30 but chose to tender their resignations ahead of the constitutionally-mandated end of their terms.

Judy Batulan, provincial DILG director, said while the act of resignation is a “personal decision,” he was still surprised that the three did not wait for the end of their term on June 30.

“I am surprised that they have to tender their resignations when their terms in office are to end in less than a month. But that is their personal decision,” he said in an interview aired over a local radio station in Catbalogan City, the provincial capital.

Sought for comment, Coñejos said he had to resign due to health reasons.

The two other councilors, which are on their last terms, have yet to issue a statement.

Despite the resignation of the three councilors, Batulan said the legislative works would not be disrupted considering that the new set of city legislators are to take their positions beginning June 30.

“Even if there will be only two or three councilors, there will still be a quorum,” he said.

Incidentally, all 12 elected councilors of the city were from the Nacionalista Party (NP). The three resigned councilors belonged to the Liberal Party.

The incoming mayor and vice mayor of the city, Raymund Uy and Rex Daguman, belong to NP and the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

Batulan also confirmed that the wife of slain mayor Ronaldo Aquino had also tendered her resignation as village chairman of San Policarpo.

Batulan said he had no information as to the reason for Aquino’s resignation.

Aquino’s son, Clarence, who ran but lost as vice mayor, said the family had decided not to run for any elective posts in the coming elections.

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