Tiangco named Navotas acting mayor anew

Navotas Vice Mayor Reynald Tobias "Toby" Tiangco has again become acting mayor after ailing Mayor Cipriano "Efren" Bautista's absence from the town hall continues as his health reportedly turned worse.

Tobias was officially appointed acting mayor last Tuesday by Bautista who was reported to be confined at Saint Luke's Medical Center.

Bautista has not showed up at the municipal hall since he went on leave on March 13 for a 30-day vacation in the United States where he was slated to undergo medical tests.

Bautista had admitted having cancer of the lymph nodes but said that it was "in remission" last year.

Last April 10, Bautista reassumed the mayoralty from Tiangco but has yet to report for work, raising concern about his health among residents.

Tiangco, for his part, refused to discuss the mayor's health and the circumstances behind his return to the acting mayoral post.

Tiangco gave assurances that he was ready to take charge of the town's affairs pointing out that he had already served as acting mayor on several occasions, the longest of which was during the poll protest against Bautista filed by a losing mayoralty candidate, Miguelita del Rosario, which lasted for more than eight months.