VICE Mayor Rocky Gabatan of Ronda, Cebu was sworn in as the new town mayor Wednesday afternoon, September 5, hours after Mayor Mariano Blanco III's death.

Blanco was killed inside his office by still unidentified gunmen around 1 a.m. Wednesday, September 5.

READ: Ronda mayor shot dead inside office

Gabatan told SunStar that he was immediately sworn in as the town mayor, as he was told by the Department of Interior and Local Government to assume Blanco's responsibilities especially that some of the transactions at the town hall could be affected due to power vacuum.

He took oath before Barangay Poblacion chief Jalanie Ogario.

Aside from Gabatan, third Councilor Harold James Llego also assumed as the new vice mayor of the town Wednesday. Llego also took oath before Ogario at his office at the municipal hall.

Second Councilor Jay Ann Cañete was supposed to assume as vice mayor, but she resigned earlier this year to pursue a career in physical therapy abroad.

Gabatan said he had to be sworn immediately as town mayor after receiving word that Blanco had not signed the payroll for the municipality's 133 job order employees.

His signature was also necessary for the release of funds for the town's annual Panaghiusa Festival, which was part of the annual fiesta celebration this year, Gabatan added.

Gabatan, who was elected as Ronda's first councilor in 2016, assumed the vice mayoral position early this year after Ronda Vice Mayor and lawyer Jonah John Ungab was murdered by unidentified men in Cebu City in February. (JKV)