DESPITE COMELEC LETTER AFFIRMING SUSPENSION

NOTWITHSTANDING a letter from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) stating that the serving of their suspension order on January 7 was valid, Urdaneta City Mayor Julio Parayno III and his cousin Vice Mayor Jimmy Parayno continue to hold their respective offices and discharging duties without being rebuked by higher authorities.

The mayor himself, in a call to The Punch last week, said that since January 12 when he reported back to work after an almost one week of sick leave, he has never left his post as city chief executive.

Asked about the 10-day ultimatum given by the Department of the Interior and Local Government for him and his cousin to vacate their posts and allow the next ranking councilors to assume their seats, Parayno said no further order was made.

As a matter of fact, he said, he was leaving for Manila the next day to receive his award as one of the national awardees of the Consistent Regional Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) of the Department of Health in a ceremony slated last Friday night at the Manila Hotel.

He received the same award last year, which he said is a testament to the efforts of the city government in providing food and nutrition to town residents, especially children who are underweight and lacking in nutrition.

He said he also received his award on February 25 as the regional awardee of the Department for Labor and Employment Regional Office after the Urdaneta Public Employment Service Office was adjudged as Best PESO among all component cities of Region 1.

Parayno maintained that since the election period started January 12, any suspension to be imposed upon a local government official must have the clearance of the COMELEC, contending that the serving of the suspension order last January 7 was not valid because he nor the vice mayor did not personally receive and sign the document.

He reiterated that if the DILG can show a COMELEC resolution approving his suspension, he will follow the order.

Members of the rival party in Urdaneta were surprised that the two Paraynos were still reporting to the city hall. (Leonardo Micua)

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