Hasten Compostela standoff resolution

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Interior and Local Government in Central Visayas has appealed to the Commission on Elections to expedite the solution of the political standoff in Compostela.

DILG-7 director Pedro Noval said he is consistently making follow-ups at the Comelec to resolve the pending election protest that hinders winning candidates from assuming.

Noval explained that he can only appeal to the Comelec to hasten the resolution of the case because he could not dictate them.

Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who recently had a two-day visit in Cebu, said that his department could not also intervene in the on-going conflict because it is under the Comelec’s jurisdiction.

“What the people can do is to make an appeal to Comelec to fast track its decision on the pending electoral dispute,” De Lima said.

Compostela is currently being run by DILG provincial officer Jerome Gonzales. Gonzales assumed as acting mayor of the town on December 1 after Noval requested to be relieved as the town’s care taker.

Noval was first designated acting mayor following the Comelec’s suspension of the proclamation of the winning candidates of the town because of the election protest filed by former mayor Ritchie Wagas.

Wagas lost to then vice mayor Joel Quinio but the former filed an election protest. The Comelec ordered the suspension of the proclamation of winners including the members of the municipal council.

The suspension barred Quinio, Vice Mayor-elect Nanette Dangoy and eight councilors-elect from taking their oath and assuming the office. (FREEMAN)