DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines – To ensure continuous delivery of services, Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez assumed the post as acting mayor yesterday after Mayor Benjamin Lim suffered a stroke.
Fernandez’ assumption of the mayor’s post was sanctioned by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and was not related yet to her re-election.
“Fernandez defeated Lim with a margin of 4,140 votes in last Monday’s elections. Her assumption is part of her old post being the vice mayor,†Joseph Apolonio, legal officer of DILG Region 1, told The STAR.
“Her assumption as acting mayor is in order not to disrupt public service. This is provided by law and no right is violated,†Apolonio added.
Talk had it that Lim was in serious condition. He was brought to a local hospital but was transferred to a Manila hospital.
The city government was mum about Lim’s condition until news spread that he died.
Lim’s councilor son, Brian, denied the news through his Facebook account. He said on the eve of the elections, his father forgot to take his medicine, causing his blood sugar to shoot up and bring on a stroke.