Wednesday, June 25, 2008 Granada assumes post as town chief By WHEN a town has two mayors, who takes charge?
Demetrio Granada was recognized as mayor during a joint session of the Tudela Municipal Council and the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) last Monday.
ABC president Greman “Jojo” Solante told Sun.Star Cebu that Granada presented a letter to the council stating he was the winner of the Tudela mayoral post by 21 votes, as shown in a recount.
But Mayor Roger Baquerfo, in a separate interview, laughed off the report that Granada assumed office as mayor of Tudela in the Camotes Group of Islands.
Baquerfo said he has a copy of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) order stopping Granada from assuming as mayor.
Baquerfo intends to report for work today, adding he is willing to raise the case to the Court of Appeals and, failing that, the Supreme Court.
Baquerfo reiterated that his lawyer, Noel Archival, secured a favorable result in the electoral protest that declared Granada the winner of Tudela’s May 2007 election.
Baquerfo earlier filed for a special proceeding before the Commission on Elections (Comelec), following a Jan. 9 ruling of the Danao City Regional Trial Court (RTC). That
ruling gave Granada authority to assume the post of Tudela mayor after the recount.
Comelec Commissioners Romeo Brawner and Moslemen Macarambon, however, signed a temporary restraining order (TRO) that compelled Granada to wait for 60 more
days before assuming office.
If an injunction order was indeed signed in favor of the sitting mayor, Baquerfo said this will be the key for eventual peace in Tudela.
Baquerfo was declared the winner by eight votes last year.
Granada, who was then the incumbent mayor, filed an election protest. After a recount, Danao City RTC Judge Edito Enemecio ruled that Granada won by 13 votes.
However, Solante said that the town council and the barangay captains’ group recognized Granada as the “duly elected, lawful and legitimate” mayor because they saw “no legal impediments” to his assumption of office.
Solante said that Baquerfo could not show any injunction order from the Comelec after the 60-day TRO lapsed last April 13.
The ABC president said that Granada presented his position paper when the town council held an emergency session to assess and address the damage caused by typhoon Frank.
Granada attached to his position letter his oath of office, a receipt of his surety bond, and other court orders to substantiate his claim, Solante added.
The town council also passed a resolution authorizing Granada to change the town’s bank account terms so that he, not Baquerfo, would be responsible for transactions, said Solante.
Granada then issued a memorandum directing all department heads to heed his and not Baquerfo’s orders.
“A few” of Baquerfo’s supporters gathered outside the town hall on Monday afternoon to protest the impending assumption of Granada, Solante said, but operatives of the Special Reaction Unit secured the area. (GMD)
