MABALACAT CITY -- Vice Mayor Christian Halili remains mayor of this city after the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Angeles City on Tuesday, June 28, issued a 72-hour Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) which prevented former Board Member Crisostomo Garbo from assuming the mayoralty post on same day.
The RTC ordered Garbo and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to “cease and desist from any action that will result in the removal from the mayoralty position of the petitioner (Halili).”
On June 19, Vice Mayor Halili assumed office as the new city mayor by virtue of succession under Section 44 of the Local Government Code.
RTC Executive Judge Omar Viola stated that the issues concerning the case of Halili and Garbo are “complicated and unique” and such should be resolved in a full-blown trial.
Halili assumed as Mabalacat mayor after former Mayor Marino Morales stepped down from office.
The DILG executed the Comelec en Banc’s order cancelling the certificate of candidacy of former Mayor Morales in the May 2016 elections.
The ruling disqualifies Morales as a candidate and nullifying the 40,000-votes he garnered in the last elections. Same ruling of the Comelec affirms the victory of his contender, Garbo, who gained 17,710 votes.
“For purposes of this Chapter, a permanent vacancy arises when an elective local official fills a higher vacant office, refuses to assume office, fails to qualify, dies, is removed from office, voluntarily resigns, or is otherwise permanently incapacitated to discharge the functions of his office,” the Local Government Code states.
Halili expressed hopes that he will be granted a preliminary injunction after the 72-hour TRO.
Willing to vacate post
Halili said that he is willing to vacate the mayoralty post and obey legal orders.
“I am willing to vacate the mayor’s office go back to the vice mayor’s office on legal orders,” Halili said in the vernacular.
He also appealed to all Mabalaquenos to remain calm amid the issues concerning the city’s political leaders.
“Pipilitin po natin na maging mapayapa at maayos ang lahat. Handa naman tayong makipag-usap ng mahinahon sa kanila kung sakaling dumating sila. At pagkatapos ng TRO na ito, pinagdadasal natin na sana ay maresolba ito ng maayos at mabigyan ng paglilinaw ang sitwasyon natin ngayon,” he said.