New CDO mayor, vice mayor installed

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – The vice mayor and a councilor of this city have been installed as its new mayor and vice mayor, respectively.

Vice Mayor Caesar Ian Acenas and Councilor Candy Darimbang assumed their new posts on Thursday night after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) served the dismissal order against Mayor Oscar Moreno.

A representative of the DILG delivered the dismissal order, as well as the oaths of office of Acenas and Darimbang at the vice mayor’s office at 6:27 p.m.

DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero signed the order. 

Acenas urged Moreno to vacate his post and called on his supporters, who barricaded the city hall, to disperse.

“I did not expect this to happen. I feel sad. However, we have to respect the law. We will call a special session today to make everything official and install the new city mayor,” Darimbang said.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales approved Moreno’s dismissal on Oct. 6 for grave misconduct for entering into an agreement with a private company without authorization from the Sangguniang Panglungsod.

Moreno and city treasurer Glenn Banez were also perpetually barred from holding public office and their retirement benefits were forfeited.