POZORRUBIO—A new mayor here was installed Friday by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) following the dismissal from service of his predecessor- mayor for grave misconduct and dishonesty.

Vice Mayor Ernesto Go took his oath to succeed Mayor Artemio Chan in simple rites presided by lawyer Joseph Apolonio from the DILG Region 1.

Go’s oath-taking was administered by Amagbagan Barangay Captain Juan Calpotura Jr, witnessed by DILG Provincial Director Agnes de Leon and other local officials.

Go said there was no unrest among municipal government officials following his installation as new mayor.

He denied politics was behind the ouster of Chan.

A couple charged the mayor before the Ombudsman for illegally delegating his authority to a mere municipal employee who solemnized the complainants’ wedding even if the mayor signed their marriage certificate.

Chan was ordered dismissed by the Ombudsman in a decision he received on Aug. 16 after he was found “administratively liable for grave misconduct and serious dishonesty and is meted the penalty of dismissal from service, including perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of civil service eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits and bar from taking civil service examination”, pursuant to Section 19, Administrative Order No. 07, as amended by Administrative Order No. 17 in relation to Section 25 of Republic Act No. 6770”.

Chan said in an earlier interview that although the Ombudsman decision was “harsh”, but he will abide by it.

Councilor Ernesto Salcedo succeeds as vice mayor being the no. 1 councilor, and also took his oath of before Calpotura.

Chan and Go had their last official discussion over the supplemental budget submitted by the former.

Meanwhile, the last slot in the municipal council will be filled by a nominee from the party of Salcedo. The rule states that vacancy for the number eight councilor will be made based on the political party of the one that created the vacancy.

Floricel Servito, municipal local government operations officer, said, “It’s not necessarily the candidate for councilor who placed ninth”.

Go first fought Chan’s wife, Emma, in the mayoralty race in 2007. Go lost by 145 votes.

Go again ran and challenged Artemio Chan in 2010 for the mayoralty post but failed again. (Eva Visperas)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments