Junie to swear in Daanbantayan’s new town mayor

CEBU, Philippines - Bogo City Mayor Celestino "Junie" Martinez Jr. is set to administer the oath of office of newly-elected Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto "Dodong Itok" Corro tomorrow at the town's cultural center.

Joining Corro to take their oath are Vice Mayor-elect Gilbert Arrabis Jr. and councilors-elect Chona de Leon and Emmanuel Benatiro, the only two councilors under the Liberal Party who won in Daanbantayan.

Martinez is the chairman of the party in the fourth district of the Province of Cebu where Daanbantayan belongs.

Corro's aide, Rosanni Luche, said that all barangay officials, municipal employees, businessmen and ordinary folks regardless of political affiliations are also invited to witness the ceremony.

Preparations for an estimated 8,000 visitors are already in place, said Luche.

Corro finally won the mayoralty seat in the last May 13 elections after his two failed attempts against Ma. Luisa Loot and her son, Sun Shimura.

Loot holds office since 1998 to 2007. Then, she let her son, now Provincial Board Member Shimura, to run for mayor and defeated Corro in 2007.

Loot again took the mayoralty seat in the 2010 and defeated Corro.

But in the May 13 elections, Corro won by more than 2,000 votes against Loot.

On the other hand, Martinez will take his oath before Regional Trial Court Judge Antonio Marigomen in the evening of Sunday at the Bogo Public Plaza, together with other newly elected city officials.

Martinez is now on his last term as mayor of Bogo City.

Meanwhile, Toledo City Mayor-elect John Henry "Sonny" Osmeña will take his oath before Judge Albei Carmelo Pescadero at noon on Sunday at the Toledo City Regional Trial Court sala.

Governor-elect Hilario Davide III and Vice Governor-elect Agnes Magpale will also take their oath on the same day at the Capitol.  (FREEMAN)