Tension mounts as new Baliuag mayor is installed

BALIUAG, Bulacan — Tension mounted at the municipal hall here the other day when supporters of the incumbent mayor tried to stop the newly elected mayor from assuming his post after an 11-month election protest.

It all began when Judge Victoria Pornillos of Branch 10 of the Malolos Regional Trial Court ruled the other day that the incumbent mayor, Rolando Salvador, lost to Romeo Estrella in last year’s general elections by 1,439 votes.

Later that day, at about 4 p.m., provincial sheriff Benjamin Jao served the writ of execution, installing Estrella as the new mayor. Anticipating trouble, Jao and Estrella were escorted by dozens of police officers.

But Salvador’s supporters blocked the stairs leading to the mayor’s office, forcing Estrella to hold his first day in office at the municipal treasurer’s office.

Salvador’s camp tried to delay the serving of the writ, saying they had secured a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

But Jao said the restraining order was "null and void" because it came after Estrella had been proclaimed and had taken his oath of office before Malolos RTC Executive Judge Carlos Herrera.

"The court will not defy orders from the Comelec. The TRO that they showed did not bear a proof of service, meaning the court was not informed that the oath-taking should be set aside," Jao told reporters.

Jao said, "By virtue of the writ of execution, Romeo Estrella is the duly elected mayor of Baliuag." Salvador, however, refused to concede, prompting his supporters to stop Estrella from taking office.

At around midnight, dozens of Estrella supporters flocked to the town hall and held a vigil. A commotion broke out between the supporters of Estrella and Salvador, but no one was reported hurt.

Salvador’s supporters were later dispersed by the police, enabling Estrella to enter the mayor’s office. However, police officers have been ordered to continue guarding the building until the situation normalizes. — With Ric Sapnu