CEBU, Philippines - Even before he could assume his post, former Association of Barangay Councils president Osmundo Manreal Jr. has resigned as barangay councilman of Pooc, Talisay City.
In his letter addressed to Pooc barangay chief Dory Emit, Manreal said he wants to begin a "new chapter" of his life in the United States with his family.
He left for the US in November shortly after he was elected as first barangay councilman of Pooc, where he served as barangay chairman for three consecutive terms, to join his wife and two children.
Manreal has missed six sessions already, according to Emit, which prompted him to write the former asking for his whereabouts as there were no words from him since he left in November.
Early this week, after getting no reply from Manreal, Emit wrote a letter of inquiry to the Department of the Interior and Local Government asking for its legal opinion as to what to do with the situation.
"Kay og di ta moaksyon basin ma-Ombudman ta," he said.
Manreal's resignation was dated February 17 but Emit said he received it just the other day.
Quoting Manreal's letter, Emit said Manreal's application to become immigrant was already granted.
In an interview, Emit said they have not decided yet as to who would replace his predecessor in the barangay council. Although there are already rumors that Manreal's group will endorse another Manreal, a cousin of the former ABC chief, he said.
Emit however said that will have to be approved by the body as per the Local Government Code of 1991.
Although he is now identified with the administration like Manreal himself, Emit ran as an opposition barangay chief candidate in the last October 2010 barangay polls.
And while three of his councilmen also won, the administration still has the number, with five seats in the barangay council including that of the Sangguniang Kabataan chairman.
Even with the absence of Manreal, the administration still has four votes against the opposition's three.
Emit admitted they will also endorse a name to take the vacated seat.
Under the Local Government Code, the barangay council has to approve a resolution endorsing a candidate to replace a permanently vacated position in the council.
It is then the mayor who gives the final approval, and appoints the replacement.
Manreal served as Pooc barangay chief for three terms within which he was also elected as ABC president.
He ran for a seat in the city council twice, in 2007 and 2010, but was defeated.
In October 2010, after serving his last term as barangay chairman, he ran for councilman and secured the first seat.
He was able to take his oath of office, but has not served the barangay as he left for the US shortly after he could start his term of public office. (FREEMAN)