Police bars suspended Bangui mayor from entering office

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

Bangui, Ilocos Norte—Three months and eight days following the suspension of the municipal chief executive here, elected Bangui Mayor Diosdado Garvida attempted to enter his old office on Feb. 23 but was barred by local police officers.

The mayor’s office has been padlocked since November 14 and it shall only be opened after the mayor’s six months suspension is served or until an order from “higher authorities” say so.

Mr. Garvida’s suspension order stemmed from an administrative complaint filed against him for alleged indiscriminate firing.

Earlier, Mr. Garvida’s camp through his lawyer appealed the suspension to the Office of the President.

On January 29, a letter from Malacañang ordered the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to explain and forward all related documents pertaining to the mayor’s suspension.

On Feb. 23, Mr. Garvida went to the municipal hall and met with the department heads saying he is now reporting back to work.

But his attempt to enter the mayor’s office was prevented by police authorities along with Ilocos Norte government legal officer Jason Bader Perreira when the suspended mayor failed to present an order reversing the SP’s earlier decision to suspend him for six months.

Mr. Garvida insists he has a “stay order” from the Office of the President.

Mr. Perreira however explained that the letter from Malacañang dated January 29 was just an inquiry and “not executory” in nature.

“The letter is not an order at all. He (Mr. Garvida) can’t just assume office unless there’s an order from Malacañang,” Mr. Pereira explained in an interview.

To scale down the tension at the municipal hall, Mr. Perreira held a meeting with the department heads saying Mr. Garvida’s claim to assume office with the absence of an order telling him to do so is not binding.

As mandated by law, he said Bangui Vice Mayor Fidel Cimatu shall remain as the acting mayor of Bangui to ensure smooth flow of operation at the municipal hall.

In a separate interview, Mr. Cimatu, also a retired general, asked the municipal employees of Bangui to remain calm and proceed with their duties and responsibilities.

“There is nothing to worry. There is no untoward incident. Everything is under control,” Mr. Cimatu said.