Red Durano hopeful Compostela mess will be over by yearend

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu fifth district Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano VI has urged the new caretaker of the Municipality of Compostela, Department of Interior and Local Government 7 Regional Director Ananias Mori Villacorta, to act differently from his predecessor, now DILG-8 Regional Director Pedro Noval, Jr.

During the 888 News Forum at the Marco Polo Plaza yesterday, Durano hit Noval for allegedly favoring a party in the municipality.

“So, caretaker man ta anang lugara, you should treat everyone the same,” Durano said although he has yet to meet Villacorta.

A quarrel between Noval and Durano had ensued last year when the former accused the latter of deceiving the people when he delivered a privilege speech in the House of Representatives.

Durano was reported as saying that Compostela’s treasury is nearing bankruptcy, that there is no power in some parts of the town and that the peace and order is deteriorating.

According to Durano, these were happening because of the absence of a duly-elected mayor and the alleged anomalous appointment of Noval as the caretaker of the town.

Durano yesterday said he was informed that the Commission on Elections already issued guidelines on the re-canvassing of votes in Compostela.

“As of Friday last week, what I know is naa na sila’y rules and regulations and it’s ready for execution and the case is now with first division of the Comelec. We are hopeful that before the year ends naa na’y maproklamar nga dumadaug unya makalingkod na sila before the year ends,” Durano said.

However, Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano told The Freeman that he has yet to receive the guidelines referred to by Durano.

Castillano said that the guidelines must have included the ruling of the Comelec to the motion of former mayor Ritchie Wagas to have the re-canvassing in Manila.

Last June, the Comelec Second Division was for the Municipal Board of Canvassers (MBOC) to reconvene and re-canvass the votes in the 2010 elections in Compostela.

The MBOC asked Comelec Deputy Executive Director for Operations, Bartolome Sinocruz Jr. for guidance.

For one and a half year now, Compostela has had no elected officials after the Comelec suspended the proclamation of Mayor-elect Joel Quiño and the town councilors because of the election protest filed by Wagas. – (FREEMAN)