Maguindanao town mayor gets Comelec order to keep post

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - The Commission on Elections issued early this week an injunction against a court ruling, unseating the mayor of Parang town in Maguindanao based on allegations of irregularities during the May 13, 2010 local polls.

Lawyer Kirby Abdullah, counsel of Mayor Ibrahim Ibay, told reporters Thursday that Comelec’s injunction effectively allows his client to occupy the mayor's post until the election protest filed by Ibay's defeated rival, Talib Abo Sr., is resolved.

Ibay was declared winner by Parang’s election officer in the 2010 mayoral race in the municipality, but Abo contested the former's victory in court in a legal battle that dragged on until late last year.

Judge Bansawan Ibrahim of the RTC here ruled that Abo won  the poll.

Bansawan’s order for Abo to assume Parang’s mayoral post was prevented by Ibay’s camp, which secured a temporary restraining order from the Comelec.

Abdullah said Ibay,  who will remain as mayor of Parang until the electoral case has been resolved, will continue to discharge the duties and functions of a municipal chief executive as provided for by the Local Government Code.

Ibay, who had served as member of the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for three terms, or nine consecutive years, prior to his election as Parang’s municipal mayor, is seeking a second term during the May elections under the banner of the administration’s Liberal Party.

Ibay’s bid for a second term is being contested by incumbent Maguindanao provincial board member Talib Abo Jr.