Durano to DILG-7 Chief: Avoid statements seen to fuel tension

CEBU - Cebu fifth district Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano VI asks the Department of the Interior and Local Government to refrain from issuing statements that would only aggravate the conflict between Demetrio Granada and Rogelio Baquerfo, Sr. who both claim the mayoralty post in Tudela town.

Durano said that DILG regional director Pedro Noval should not issue further statements that will fuel all the more the dispute between the camps of Granada and Baquerfo.

He said that it would be “much better to wait for the decision of Comelec-Manila” so as not to add up to the political tension in Tudela.

Granada’s legal counsels, Guiller Ceniza and Jorge John Cane, in their letter addressed to Noval, have asked the DILG official to stop issuing pronouncements to the media that are “uncalled for” and “constituent sub-judice on a subject matter that is pending consideration before the court”.  

In an interview with The FREEMAN, Ceniza said that based on news reports, DILG intends to force Granada to vacate his current post and allegedly wants to accompany Baquerfo in going to Tudela for this purpose.

The letter added that Noval should refrain from being partisan. Going with Baquerfo to Tudela in order to eject Granada is partisanship of the highest order and may force them to file a case against the DILG chief, the letter further went.

“That is not true. I don’t have any personal interest on this case. I am not bias with anybody. I am not partisan,” Noval in a separate interview said.

It maybe recalled that it was Baquerfo who was proclaimed as mayor by the Comelec in the last May elections. However, Granada filed an election protest demanding for a recount.

After a judicial recount, Granada won against Baquerfo by 13 votes.

This is the second time that Granada and Baquerfo faced in court. The last time was in 2004 when Granada won over Baquerfo as Tudela’s mayor. Baquerfo filed an election protest but has remained unresolved as the May 2007 elections set in. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/MEEV