Suspended Iligan mayor vows to hold on to post

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines  – Mayor Celso Regencia of this city yesterday vowed to hold on to his post until the Court of Appeals (CA) rules on his appeal seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) on his suspension.

Regencia said there was nothing wrong with an order that he issued, noting he was merely protecting the city’s coffers.

As soon as he took office in 2013, Regencia ordered the human resource department, budget, city secretary, and the city treasurer not to hire casual employees and job orders without his approval.

He said he was complying with President Aquino’s anti-corruption campaign dubbed Matuwid na Daan.

The mayor said the city government has 3,371 casual employees or workers hired under job orders. He believes many of these workers are ghost employees.

Regencia said the city spent P42 million last year for casual and job order workers. He said he did not violate any law when he issued the order.

“If the department heads will just follow my memo, I think there will be no problem,” he said adding he is not ashamed by the suspension order, as he is not facing a corruption case.

60-day suspension 

Last Friday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) swore in Vice Mayor Roderic Marzo as mayor.

Rene Burdeos, DILG regional director, said Marzo would discharge the duties of a mayor until Regencia’s 60-day suspension lapses. 

The DILG served the order Friday afternoon amid opposition by Regencia’s supporters, who barricaded the city hall grounds. 

Burdeos said Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa signed the suspension order dated March 2.

Regencia told journalists that he is willing to abide by the order once the CA rejects his appeal.

“But if the CA will grant my petition for TRO, they should also respect it,” he said.