Bank recognizes Torres-Aquino as Tanauan City mayor

Tanauan City, Batangas — Despite the long stalemate between embattled Mayor Alfredo Corona and Sonia Torres-Aquino, the Land Bank of the Philippines where the city government maintains an account, has finally come up with a decision to recognize Torres-Aquino as the mayor of this city.

This came up after Torres-Aquino’s lawyer George Erwin Garcia requested the bank to recognize his client as the legitimate signatory of transactions in behalf of the city government.

The bank, however, has temporarily frozen all transactions pending the Comelec’s clarificatory notice on the divided opinion of the commissioners and to maintain neutrality on the matter.

On Feb. 9, lawyer Amado Alexis Garcia Claros, legal officer of the Land Bank of the Philippines, sent a letter to Garcia informing him that the Comelec had sent their en banc resolution dated Feb. 7, installing Aquino as the city mayor of Tanauan.

The Star tried to get Corona’s comment but his city legal officer Atty. Abner Roxas was not available for comment.

Garcia, in a press conference held at the old city hall where Torres-Aquino is holding office, said that this development in the mayoralty conflict is tantamount to "fund-control."

"He who controls the purse, controls the sword," Garcia said in an interview.

Garcia said Aquino-Torres has vowed that all employees, whether regular or casual, should receive their salaries immediately which was supposed to have been released last Tuesday.

Garcia, however, that he is also anticipating the counter moves from Corona’s camp.

Asked whether Torres-Aquino can be considered the legal mayor even if Corona is presently occupying the city hall’s office, Garcia said that "only the functions would be considered abnormal, but she is the legal mayor (even she’s out of the city hall)."