By Eva C. Visperas

 

IDENTITY revealed!

Yes, because the preventive suspension order has been served on August 12 against Urdaneta City Mayor Rammy Parayno.

Following my previous report, the unfolding events have been both stressful and more damaging. In addition to the 90-day preventive suspension order, Mayor Rammy allegedly became embroiled in a tense situation when he reportedly slapped a cameraman from the Provincial Information and Media Management Office, who was tasked with documenting the proceedings.

Media outlets obtained a police report about the incident, which is detailed in this issue. The slapping incident spread rapidly online across various Facebook pages and accounts, with photos showing a red mark on the eye of the victim, Jairus Bien Sibayan, apparently from the impact of the slap.

I checked the official Facebook page of Urdaneta LGU and that of Mayor Rammy, but there was no reaction.

Nasapawan ang preventive suspension order ng sampal episode sa mga media reports!

I sought comments through his trusted media contact, Atong R., but the promised press conference scheduled a day after the incident was canceled. I received a message late Monday night about the cancellation, that the press conference would be held after the mayor’s lawyer files an appeal against the preventive suspension order.

As I write this on Thursday night, there has still been no statement from the mayor.

The case is related to an Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) endorsement for further investigation and the filing of appropriate charges concerning a complaint from a businessman.

“Mahirap pala yang ARTA. Napak- powerful ng taong-bayan kung alam nilang i-aassert ang karapatan nila,” said our news source.

To be clear, it wasn’t the Sangguniang Panlalawigan that initiated the complaint. It originated from a private company operating a poultry business.

Although ARTA has no prosecutorial powers, its endorsement was transmitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the source added.

We were informed that in this situation, the mayor has to appeal to the Office of the President. However, the appeal must be acted upon within three working days.

If the appeal was filed on Tuesday, we expect updates about the order by the end of office hours on August 15 or the first working hour on August 19.

If Mayor Rammy fails to secure a favorable appeal, his vice mayor will temporarily take over his post, and the first councilor will assume the vice mayor’s position during the 90-day suspension.

Ninety days means the suspension will last until November. The filing of candidacy for the May 2025 elections will take place from October 1 to October 8, 2024.

Will this affect his candidacy? We don’t know. A media colleague opined that Filipinos often sympathize with underdogs.

Some netizens, commenting online, suggested that the case was politically motivated. Well, everyone’s entitled to their own opinions, depending on which side of the fence they sit on.

Why? Because Mayor Rammy will be challenged by Pangasinan First Lady Maan Tuazon-Guico in next year’s mayoral race in Urdaneta. She transferred her voter registration several months ago, in case you aren’t aware.

Additionally, she has been actively engaging with Urdaneta residents, even in the remotest areas, to make her presence felt.

But of course, that’s besides the issue of the preventive suspension order. Mrs. Maan has been doing that long before the suspension order.

It’s simply an analysis from critical-minded individuals like you, dear readers.

It’s important to note that the ARTA endorsement and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s resolution “Adopting and approving the recommendation of the Committee on Good Government and Accountability of Public Officers, Justice and Human Rights as its resolution in the imposition of preventive suspension of the respondent in Administrative Case No. 02-2024 and endorsing the same to Governor Ramon Guico III for implementation” is enshrined under the Local Government Code.

That’s what we’ve been told!

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