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For the third day, beleaguered Malabon City Mayor Amado Vicencio has defied Malacanang’s order for him to step down from his post. And he has his loyalists to thank for that.

Hundreds of the mayor’s supporters, joined by several city government employees, formed a human barricade in front of the Malabon City Hall yesterday to prevent Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) personnel from serving the suspension order.

"The DILG men just left without serving the order. Hundreds of residents prevented them from entering the city hall," Gerry Gonzales, Vicencio’s spokesman, said.

Tension was still high yesterday as almost a thousand loyal supporters of the mayor remained vigilant in front of city hall following reports that the DILG would exert more effort to implement the preventive suspension order against Vicencio.

The number of the mayor’s followers continued to swell as they assured their leader they would not allow DILG men to pass through the blockade.

Malacañang ordered the DILG to relieve Vicencio from his post over the alleged anomalous land deal in Barangay Tanza, Navotas.

Vicencio, for the second time in as many years in his last term as city chief executive, is being suspended for alleged dishonesty, misconduct in office and gross negligence over alleged irregularities in the purchase of a P90-million questioned property in Tanza, Navotas.

The property, an idle fishpond being filled up, is intended for the city’s displaced rail dwellers in the wake of a multi-billion construction of the initial stages of the North Railway Development Project, a priority project of the Arroyo administration.

Vicencio has refused to step down, claiming a technical discrepancy on the part of the implementing agency.

"An accused official is being preventively suspended for him not to influence the ongoing investigation of the case…but this time the case is already for resolution. So what’s the use of the preventive suspension?" Vicencio’s lawyer, Bernardo Calderon, said.

"We have already answered all the allegations in the administrative case filed against me. I only offered my help to the national government to find a relocation site for the squatter families affected by the railway project, and now due to their (DILG) inconsistency they want me suspended. If you are in my part what will you do?" Vicencio said.

Meanwhile, Malabon City opposition Councilor Edilberto Torres yesterday threatened to throw the book at the DILG for his alleged failure to serve the 60-day suspension order. The suspension order came in the wake of charges filed by opposition Councilors Edilberto Torres, Chiqui Roque-Villaroel, Payapa Ona and Ricky Bernardo related to the alleged anomalous purchase of the fishpond.

"We cannot understand why the local DILG officer (Jovian Ingeñero) has not served the order. If he is afraid of what Vicencio’s supporters will do to him if he persisted, he is allowed by law to get police assistance to do his job. This is already the third day," Torres said.