JVR-Villarante ties seen to turn sour

CEBU, Philippines - The rift between Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes and Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante is seen to escalate as the council presiding officer is expected to deliver his privilege speech in today's council session narrating the mismanagement of the sitting chief executive.

"Atangi nalang sa Martes," Villarante in text message to The FREEMAN said when sought for a comment whether his relationship between the mayor has already turned sour.

The rift between De los Reyes and Villarante, who are both allies, started to spark after the mayor issued a memorandum to the vice mayor and members of the city council to speed up in giving him the authority to enter into an almost P400 million loan for the Tabunok Public Market's reconstruction.

Ironically, the two used the public market issue against former congressman Eduardo Gullas, who ran for mayor last May 2013 elections but lost, believably because the veteran official decided to transfer the vendors in Barangay Lagtang.

The Talisay City government of then mayor and now City Councilor Socrates Fernandez, who is an ally of Gullas, encountered strong opposition from vendors when they decided to close the Tabunok market in 2011.

Majority floor leader Richard Francis Aznar, who belongs to the Alayon party, said they would not rather meddle with the issue, adding both leaders do not need the help of the city councilors to resolve their conflict.

Aznar believes that the conflict between the mayor and vice mayor is on the issue of  the separation of the powers of the executive and legislative branches of the government.

"We will not meddle with their exchange of  words. Ang ato lang masayod ang mayor sa separation between the powers of the executive and legislative departments," Aznar said.

Minority floor leader Danilo Caballero hopes that things will patch up between the mayor and Villarante. Caballero is reportedly more inclined to support Villarante.

For City Councilor Aldin Diaz, however, the relationship between De los Reyes and Villarante already has a gap.

The conflict already started when De los Reyes warned City Hall workers and public officials to respect his executive orders or face sanctions.

In a separate occasion earlier, the mayor cited that he sent an invitation to Diaz regarding the holding of a Tourism Council meeting that was rejected by Diaz. The councilor instead called his own council meeting and even sent an invitation to the mayor.

Another instance was the alleged refusal of the legislative department to let its staff undergo a random drug test, reportedly because the staff was not working under the executive department, which initiated the test.

Villarante, on the other hand, challenged De los Reyes to remove his relatives from City Hall, including his son, Talisay City administrator John Yre De los Reyes.

Villarante blamed the city administrator for sowing intrigues and influencing the mayor to issue the orders. The vice mayor believes that John Yre is running the affairs of the city, instead of his father.

Villarante said that due to the mayor's recent decisions against him and the city council, he decided to fight back.

However, John Yre said "I am just doing my job as a city administrator," adding that he is only protecting the mayor against those who want to take advantage of  him.

"I am not angry at Atty. Villarante. Remember, this is not political showbiz but political service," John Yre added.