Lull before the storm

The people of Malabon, including the warring camps of the city’s "two mayors," have the labor holidays to thank.

The non-working days averted violence that could have erupted last Thursday, Labor Day, when suspended Mayor Amado Vicencio succeeded in getting a temporary restraining order issued by the Court of Appeals.

But a showdown still looms as Vicencio and the acting mayor, Vice Mayor Mark Allan Yambao, report for work on Monday.

With hundreds of supporters behind him, Vicencio resolutely walked past a group of police officers ordered to bodily prevent him from reclaiming his post the other day. He symbolically reassumed office as mayor by entering city hall.

"I have to do this or else I might be charged of dereliction of duty," Vicencio said.

In a memorandum he issued after reassuming his post, Vicencio enjoined department heads and chiefs of offices at city hall to attend an executive meeting on Monday over which, he said, he will preside.

This is exactly what Yambao is expected to do on Monday. The vice mayor became the acting city mayor-designate of Malacañang after Vicencio’s 60-day preventive suspension order was posted by Department of the Interior and Local Government officials at his house gate the other week.

"We don’t want no trouble," Vicencio’s camp said yesterday, adding that if ever violence should breakout on Monday, "it will not come from us."

Vicencio said he had ordered his men to exercise restraint and not to use violence in pursuing their cause "for justice and truth."

He said the opposing camp can very well do this by following the court order preserving the status quo.

Yambao said he wants peace in Malabon and would not want to see the barricades which became a regular fixture in front of city hall last week, as Vicencio held out for five days.

"My people are thinking of doing the same thing but I have advised them against it. Doing this will create more tension, more violence, maraming mapeperwisyo," Yambao said.

Opposition Councilor Edilberto Torres, one of the petitioners in the case against Vicencio, said they intend to file a petition urging the Court of Appeals to issue a clarificatory statement on the issue which had resulted in the current crisis.

Vicencio is facing an administrative case filed against him by four opposition councilors over the alleged anomalous acquisition of a piece of land in Barangay Tanza, Navotas.

Meanwhile, the crisis has dragged other officials into the fray, resulting in the relief of the Malabon police chief, Superintendent Pedro Ramos, a known ally of Vicencio.

Ramos, who was given his walking papers and now detailed at the Northern Police District Office (NPDO), has denied he was taking sides.

"Papel at ballpen lang naman ang katapat naming mga pulis. We are ready to take whatever assignment is given to us," Ramos told The STAR as he packed his bags.

When asked if anyone in particular asked for his relief, he said: "Nahirapan ako talaga. I had a tough time last week. Pulitika yan, pulis tayo. The balancing act is tough."

NPDO director Chief Superintendent Marcelino Franco Jr. did not say who ordered the sacking of Ramos, who allegedly tolerated the barricade of Vicencio’s supporters last week.

In an interview, Franco said he had indeed replaced Ramos with Malabon OIC Superintendent Benjamin Cabiltes. He said Yambao "wanted someone he can comfortably work with."

Yambao denied he asked for the head of Ramos. He said Ramos’ term was up and it was time to replace him.

Meanwhile, cops are now confused. Cabiltes, who is negotiating with Vicencio the other day, admitted he did not comprehend the issue as he was just sent there at short notice.

Cabiltes told the mayor to just follow the Malacañang order and leave city hall. When asked whether he had any written order preventing Vicencio from entering his office, he could only mumble incoherently.

"Hindi ko kayo pinipigilan. Di ko alam kung ano ang problema. Kalalagay ko lang dito. Pero andiyan na yan, wala na tayong magagawa, pag-usapan natin," Cabiltes, who had orders to prevent Vicencio from retaking his office, pleaded.

Malabon police officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The STAR the situation is expected to be volatile on Monday. They said there is confusion as to which authority they would follow. – With Pete Laude