Bulacan mayor unseated

MALOLOS CITY , Philippines  – Tension gripped the City of San Jose del Monte in Bulacan yesterday as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) declared a losing mayoral candidate the winner in the 2007 polls.

This came 15 days after Vice Mayor Rey San Pedro assumed the mayoral post due to the death of Mayor Eduardo Roquero on Aug. 24.

Former presidential adviser on agricultural modernization Angelito Sarmiento is now challenging San Pedro’s hold on the mayorship.

In a telephone interview, Sarmiento told The STAR that the Comelec issued a resolution on Tuesday nullifying Roquero’s proclamation and declaring him winner in the 2007 mayoral race.

After receiving a copy of the Comelec decision, Sarmiento said he took his oath of office before Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile in preparation for his assumption into office Wednesday.

However, as early as Tuesday night, dump trucks of the city government had blocked entrances to City Hall.

Danilo Armildez, a staffer of Sarmiento, said they had no idea as to who ordered the barricade.

But Sarmiento said yesterday that San Pedro appeared not ready to yield the position.

The STAR repeatedly tried to contact San Pedro, but one of his staffers said he was in a meeting.

A former city councilor, San Pedro was Sarmiento’s running mate under the Lakas banner in the 2007 elections.

A three-term congressman of the fourth district of Bulacan, Sarmiento authored the conversion of San Jose del Monte into a city in 2000. – With Ric Sapnu