JVR formally cuts ties with 3 execs

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Johnny De los Reyes finally cut ties with Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante and two former administration councilors who used to be his allies.

De los Reyes yesterday afternoon issued separate executive orders for Villarante and Councilors Danilo Caballero and Aldin Diaz, revoking the executive orders he previously issued giving the officials authority to supervise as representatives of the mayor in various departments.

Last 2013, De los Reyes designated the vice mayor to be his representative to the local school board, urban poor, and as supervisor of the city traffic board.

He also designated Caballero as co-chairman of the peace and order advisory council and chairman of the sports commission while Diaz would act as the mayor's representative in the tourism development council, local health board and information department.

De los Reyes said the memorandum order he issued yesterday "shall supersede and nullify all other orders and memoranda previously issued prior to the issuance and effectivity date of this (new) order."

This leaves Councilor Valeriano Ylanan to continue to act as administrator of the offices of the urban planning management and infrastructure planning development and administrator of the economic zoning and planning office while Dennis Basillote will be given another task by the mayor through executive orders. 

Political skeptics said De los Reyes had to give executive functions to Ylanan as he has already considered him to be his runningmate in the coming polls, dropping Villarante, who was his partner in 2013.

The mayor dropped Villarante because of his alleged failure to support for the construction of the P350 million new Tabunok public market, among others.

Diaz said it was a no big deal to him being stripped of his executive functions as he will be working closely with his committee in the City Council as chairman on Communication and Information Technology. — Garry B. Lao (FREEMAN)