Mayor refuses to yield post

CASTILLEJOS, Zambales (PNA) — Mayor Wilma Billman has refused to honor an order directing the assumption of Vice Mayor Enrique Clarin as acting mayor of this town.

Gov. Vicente Magsaysay said he had installed Clarin as acting mayor of Castillejos pursuant to a resolution of the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) First Division that annulled the May 13, 2004 proclamation of Billman as the winning candidate for mayor of this town. He said that the installation was long overdue because the order took effect last July 14.

The resolution arose from a petition filed by another mayoral candidate, Jose Angelo Dominguez, against the municipal board of canvasser and Billman. Dominguez questioned the validity of election returns from three precincts and filed a petition on grounds of "certain alterations or tampering on the face of the election returns without the necessary signatures of the members of the board of election inspectors.’’

Mayor Billman said she had petitioned the courts for temporary restraining order, thus will only yield to Magsaysay's move once the court has decided with finality on the case. She further said that the Governor's move was intended to favor his niece, Karla Magsaysay who was elevated to vice mayor position as an effect of his move promoting the present Vice Mayor to a Chief Executive position.