The order of Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes designating Vice Mayor-elect Santiago Dickson, who is disputing the mayorship against lawyer Philip Dacayo, as acting mayor ended a nearly month-long leadership impasse in this premier Nueva Vizcaya town.
Reyes’ July 22 order took effect last Friday.
Dickson and Dacayo, party—mates in Lakas-CMD (Christian Muslim Democrats), had both assumed the mayoralty post since June 30.
Until Reyes’ decision was handed down, the two had shared an office in the municipal executive building. They agreed to both sign documents involving official transactions of the municipal government, thus confusing municipal department heads and the townsfolk as well.
Dacayo was sworn into office by no less than Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos at the Comelec central office in Manila last June 30.
He based his assumption into office on the Comelec’s June 30 Resolution 7259, affirming his being a substitute candidate for his father, the late Mayor Heraldo Dacayo.
For his part, Dickson took his oath of office before Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Jose Rosales also on June 30, invoking the law of succession and the DILG’s concurrence prior to the issuance of the Comelec resolution favoring Dacayo.
The elder Dacayo won another term in the May 10 elections, but died on May 14, a day after he and Dickson were proclaimed mayor- and vice mayor-elect, respectively, along with the eight winning municipal councilors.
Reyes, in a two-page letter to Abalos, said the DILG is "constrained to issue a new opinion" allowing Dickson to "continue (discharging) the functions of the Office of the Mayor in an acting capacity" until the Comelec resolves the matter and so as not to hamper the operations of the municipal government.
Dacayo said he would allow Dickson to assume the mayoralty post in an acting capacity pending the Comelec decision "in the interest of our constituents."
"I am hoping (for) the same atmosphere of peace and acceptance when the Comelec (rules) with finality (as to) who between us is the legitimate one," Dacayo said.
Lawyer Virgil Castro, Dacayo’s legal counsel, said the DILG order only strengthened his client’s claim to the mayoral post.
On the other hand, human rights lawyer Ernesto Salunat, Dickson’s counsel, said the DILG order affirms that his client is the rightful and legal personality to take over as mayor.