Lina urges Comelec to resolve mayoral row in Baliuag town

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina has made an urgent appeal to Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Alfredo Benipayo to issue an unequivocal ruling on the mayoralty dispute in Baliuag, Bulacan to bring the town back to normalcy.

Lina stressed the need to immediately resolve the 10-day political impasse which, he said, has retarded and hampered government operations and delivery of basic services to Baliuag residents.

This developed as the Mayors League of Bulacan assailed Presidential Liaison on Political Affairs Jose Rufino for distributing a congratulatory letter bearing the official logo and seal of the Office of the President which they said has sown confusion in the raging dispute between incumbent Mayor Rolando Salvador and the court-appointed mayor, Romeo Estrella.

The Bulacan mayors said the "malicious" use of the presidential letterhead was tantamount to undue interference in the exclusive affairs of the Comelec which has original jurisdiction over the case.

They claimed that Rufino’s letter merely expressed the partisan opinion of Rufino and does not reflect the personal views of President Arroyo.

Rufino’s move, they added, was also completely contrary to the memorandum circular of Bulacan Gov. Josie de la Cruz upholding the status quo in the mayoral controversy.