GAPAN CITY, Philippines – Eleven executives of the city government, including eight department heads, resigned from their posts as Mayor Maricel Natividad took over.
The list of those who resigned was led by former city administrator Eduardo Almera. Natividad has yet to name his replacement.
Other department heads who resigned were human resource management officer Cesar Mendoza, city accountant Mary Jane Villareal, city planning and development coordinator Margarita Angeles, city social welfare and development officer Maria Teresa Lucero, city engineer Carl Anthony Alfaro, Sangguniang Panlunsod secretary Roberto Roldan, city civil registrar Joanne Velayo and division chiefs Alain Geoffrey Gooco (business permit and license division), Rodelito Guanio (market inspector), Danilo Padiernos (traffic management) and Roy Gonzales (slaughterhouse).
The department heads were apparently caught in a crossfire between Natividad and former mayor Christian Tinio, who lost his bid for re-election in May. They were said to be the trusted lieutenants of the ex-mayor.
Mendoza was replaced by Benito Balmeo, Villareal by Nenita Abenales and Angeles by Ramelito Padilla, who was also designated new city engineer in a concurrent capacity vice Alfaro. Lucero’s place was taken over by Khristine Lazaro and Velayo was replaced by Edwin Padiernos.
The replacements for Gooco, Guanio, Padiernos, Gonzales and Roldan have yet to be announced.
Seven other department heads did not resign. Among them were city assessor Eleonore Tecson, city budget officer Zenaida Azarcon, city veterinarian Carolina Mirador, city health officer Robert Marcelo, city treasurer Gloria Padilla and city general services officer Ferdinand Trinidad.