Pasay’s new mayor, vice mayor take oath

Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno administered the oath yesterday on Pasay Councilors Allan Panaligan and Arvin Tolentino, who have been designated as acting mayor and vice mayor after Wenceslao "Peewee" Trinidad and 10 other local officials were suspended by the Ombudsman on allegations of corruption.

"We’ve been seeing the political tension that has been going on in the city of Pasay over the past few days because of the suspension order by the Office of the Ombudsman last Friday. I ask these two officials to be respectful and conciliatory with those on suspension," Puno said following a simple ceremony at the DILG building in Quezon City.

Puno said he informed Trinidad of the action to be taken by the DILG, which would be coordinating with the community to ensure that there is no disruption of service. The formal suspension orders are expected to be sent to Trinidad today.

"We are calling those demonstrating at City Hall to remain calm. This is the normal operation of law. This is not a political situation, but a legal one," the DILG chief said. "If everybody settles down and goes on with normal activities, I’m sure Pasay City will be the best beneficiary of a continuing condition of calm and peace."

Panaligan and Tolentino are the highest ranking Sangguniang Panglungsod members from the remaining four members of the council. Also suspended for six months were Vice Mayor Antonio Calixto and 10 councilors.

Puno directed Undersecretary for Local Government Wencelito Andanar to implement the directive of the Office of the Ombudsman dated Aug. 25, placing Trinidad, Calixto, along with councilors Richard Advincula, Lexter Ibay, Jose Antonio Roxas, Ma. Antonia Cuneta, Noel Bayona, Arnel Regino Arceo, Editha Vergel de Dios, Marie Irish Pineda, Generoso Cuneta and Greg Paolo Alcera under preventive suspension "for a period of six months without pay."

"I expect Mayor Trinidad to take this in the spirit of public service with which he has lived his life. I know him to be a very responsible and dedicated individual, who, I’m sure, will not take the extreme actions people are fearing."

He said Trinidad has appreciated the show of support from his constituents. "But I expect Mayor Trinidad to act with dignity and responsibility."

In a separate memorandum to the 12 suspended officials, Puno directed them "to cease and desist from further exercising the powers and performing the duties, functions and responsibilities of their respective offices for the duration of the six-month suspension period."

Trinidad has a pending motion before the Court of Appeals seeking a temporary restraining order against the Ombudsman’s directive.

The suspended mayor said he would abide by a "gentlemen’s agreement" to give up his post as local chief executive as long as the DILG gives in to his request that he be given time at least until today to leave things in order at City Hall and to pack his things.

"I myself will command the people to leave the City Hall’s premises to show DILG officials that I am true to my word. Despite the serving of the suspension order, I would want to keep peace and order in the city," he said in a press conference.

He said, however, that the oath-taking of Councilors Panaligan and Tolentino was an "illegal act."

"The order should have been served first before the swearing in of the two officials."

DILG Undersecretary Andanar said that after the oath-taking, Panaligan can start assuming the functions of mayor of the city. Panaligan and Tolentino were among the four councilors not included in the complaint on the allegedly anomalous garbage collection and disposal contracts.

Andanar and his team were at the vicinity of the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay yesterday, but chose to stay there after he and Trinidad agreed over the phone that the order will finally be served to the latter this morning.

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, the president of the Metro Manila Mayor’s League (MML), appealed for due process to be followed in the case of Trinidad.

He went to the Pasay City Hall last Monday afternoon to show his support for Trinidad, the MML spokesman. "I am a personal friend of Mayor Peewee. I am the MML president and he is our spokesman. So we would like due process to be followed and the rights of the Pasay officials to be respected."

He said they are coordinating with Trinidad on the legal steps they can undertake. "He should defend himself, he has no choice but to defend his rights." – With Evelyn Macairan