THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Misamis Oriental on Tuesday, May 29, disclosed that former Cagayan de Oro City councilor President Elipe may take his oath of office anytime and sit as a regular member of the provincial board.
DILG-Misamis Oriental director Edward Bhagwani issued this statement after the Padayon Pilipino Party had complied with the requirements for replacement of the seat vacated as a result of the death of provincial board member Mario Emano last year.
"Pwede na siya mo-assume anyway ang importante is na-comply na ang mga requirements,"Bhagwani said.
Bhagwani said the party submitted certified true copies of all pertinent requirements this week.
He said the approval of the nomination of Elipe is lodged in the provincial board and the role of the DILG is only to receive the documents.
"Kung unsa nga partido ang naka-cause sa bakante nga position ang ibutang nga mopuli is within the same party. Ang approval diha ra sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan ang amo is for information nga naa mi knowledge sa replacement. Kung gidawat na siya sa SP as replacement effective nana siya,"Bhagwani said.
But, section 45 of the local government code states that "permanent vacancies in the Sanggunian where automatic succession do not apply shall be filled by appointment in the following manner: (1) the president, through the executive secretary, in the case of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and the Sangguniang Panglungsod of highly urbanized cities and independent component cities..."
For his part, Elipe said he will just wait for orders.
Elipe also brushed off reports that he was personally nominated by his father-in-law and chairman of the party, former city mayor Vicente "Dongkoy" Emano, saying that the nomination was a result of a consensus of the party's board and members.
"It’s not Mayor Dongkoy. After the decision has been made by the party, it is the president or the chairman who signed the nomination. Dili lang si Dongkoy it is always the agreement of the party,"Elipe said.
Elipe also said that apart from him, there were other nominations of more than five but less than 10 party members.
He said the party may have seen his qualifications and competence to fill in the vacant seat and not just because he was close to the party leaders.
Elipe was appointed as general manager of the Misamis Oriental Integrated Sports Complex after he lost his bid as board member in the 2016 elections.
"At first I declined and told them nga himoa na lang ko og last recourse. But if kung makita nga there is necessity kinsa man ko nga mobalibad nga maserbisyohan ang katawhan sa probinsya and I was number 6 in the last elections," Elipe said.