The leadership crisis came after the death of incumbent mayor Heraldo Dacayo, who won another term in last month’s election. The 72-year-old mayor died on May 14, the day after his proclamation.
Human rights lawyer Ernesto Salunat and incumbent Vice Mayor Wilson Salas, who took over the leadership of the town after Dacayo’s death, filed a petition with the Supreme Court to prevent the winning vice mayor from assuming the mayoralty seat.
Salunat, also a former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Northern Luzon, said that the law of succession could not be applied here as vice-mayor elect Santiago Dickson has yet to assume his position together with the winning mayor.
Another lawyer, Epifanio Galima, concurred with Salunat’s position that although the winners in the last elections were already proclaimed, these candidates have yet to assume their mandate.
"Proclamation and oathtaking or assumption of office are very different. You have to take your oath of office and assume post before you are qualified to succeed or fill a vacant position," said Galima, who placed second in the mayoralty race here. Salas placed third.
Dr. Luis Danao, provincial head of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), said they would allow Dickson to take over as mayor after his oathtaking as vice mayor.
"But we are prepared to take over in case there would be legal problems to settle before June 30," he said.
The petition of Salunat and Salas also seeks to hold a special election here for mayor and for Salas to continue discharging the functions of mayor in an acting capacity.