Peaceful transition urged in Lucena City

LUCENA CITY—Lucena Vice Mayor Roderick Alcala on Monday appealed to Mayor Barbara Ruby Talaga and her husband, former mayor and current city administrator, Ramon, to respect the decision of the Supreme Court unseating Barbara and allow a peaceful transition of power.

On Thursday, the high tribunal released a decision dated Oct. 9, 2012, that unseated Barbara and named Alcala as her replacement.

The court affirmed the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc on May 20, 2011, which annulled the election of Barbara as mayor because her candidacy as a substitute for her husband was invalid in the first place.

Term limit

Ramon filed a certificate of candidacy for mayor in the 2010 elections but was disqualified because he had exceeded his term limit. The Comelec ruled that Barbara’s candidacy is deemed invalid as well.

Ramon said his wife would “peacefully step down” if the Supreme Court issued a writ of execution ordering the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to install Alcala.

Ramon, however, warned Alcala against forcing his way into the mayoral post.

“We will not allow any forced takeover. Those who voted for Talaga in the last election would surely defend their mayor to death,” Ramon said.

Showdown

After the court decision’s release on Thursday, supporters of both camps have been quietly preparing for a showdown reminiscent of last year’s tension, according to sources who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.

On June 17, 2011, Comelec representatives and the DILG forced their way through a barricade set up by Talaga’s supporters at the old city hall and enforced the Comelec order to unseat Barbara and install Alcala, who took his oath of office before a Lucena judge.

Status quo

Four days later, however, Barbara successfully secured a “status quo ante” order from the high tribunal that allowed her to return to her post despite the Comelec order.

Alcala said the latest court ruling revoked the earlier status quo order that had allowed Barbara to cling to the post.

The legal battle could drag on until the elections in May next year, which would again pit Alcala, a Liberal Party stalwart, against Ramon.

The election season has started with the filing of certificates of candidacies of politicians seeking elective positions.