TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – Tension now hounds a northeastern Cagayan town as its mayor refused to accept his 60-day suspension while the vice mayor took his oath as the acting local chief executive.
Hundreds of supporters of Mayor Ignacio Taruc filled the lobby of the Buguey town hall to prevent Vice Mayor Glicerio Antiporda and his sympathizers from entering.
The provincial board suspended Taruc for alleged grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct and oppression. Antiporda, whose family had held the mayorship for more than three decades until 2007, took his oath as acting mayor yesterday. – Charlie Lagasca