Suspension order served

After several attempts, the suspension order for Malabon City Mayor Amado Vicencio was finally served yesterday.

Even as Vice Mayor Mark Allan Yambao declared himself as acting mayor, confusion still reigned in the city as the camp of Vicencio maintained that the beleaguered chief executive was still their lawful leader.

"I was sworn in as the acting mayor of Malabon City Thursday night by DILG-National Capital Region director Raffy Benaldo," Yambao said.

The swearing in ceremony was held somewhere in Quezon City and was witnessed by Malabon City DILG head Jovian Ingeniero and Northern Police District director Chief Superintendent Marcelino Franco Jr., along with other local officials, he said.

Yambao said the DILG’s action came after it delivered the 60-day preventive suspension order for Vicencio at the mayor’s residence at Araneta Subdivision in Barangay Potrero at around 5 p.m. last Thursday.

He added that the first order of the day was to restore peace and order in the city and turn back to normal the operations of the city government. He vowed to enliven business activities in the immediate vicinity of the city hall.

City hall remained shut down for the second day yesterday and the stand-off deprived residents of basic services supposed to be rendered to them by the local government.

Yambao urged the men and women, who have kept vigil near city hall to keep politics out of the issue and follow the rule of law.

"I want no trouble. Kahit saan, kahit sa bahay, I can run the local government. I will not force the issue on Mayor Vicencio and actually, physically take over his office," Yambao told The STAR.

The vice mayor further said that he cannot blame Vicencio’s supporters since they do not fully comprehend the issues. Yambao said he has to follow the law or he himself may be held accountable for neglect or abandonment of duty if he does not assume the office technically vacated by Vicencio.

Vicencio’s followers remained steadfast, claiming Vicencio was still their lawful leader, suspended or not.

Gerry Gonzales, Vicencio’s spokesman, said in a statement that their camp was able to secure a temporary restraining order from the Court of Appeals preventing the DILG from implementing the suspension order.

Yambao’s legal counsel, Allan Paguia, however, claimed the TRO was "moot and academic."

"The DILG has already sworn in Vice Mayor Yambao and he now assumes powers, duties and responsibilities of the mayor," he said.

Paguia even warned Vicencio’s loyalists that military or police assistance may be sought to disperse them.

"We might request the military or the police to use coercive force of the law. We cannot be ruled by anarchy," he said.

A human barricade and road blocks in front of the city hall remained in place yesterday as loyal supporters of Vicencio vowed not to let Yambao take over the reign of the city government.

"We will never allow Yambao to take the post," one of them said.

Yambao reiterated he would just conduct office anywhere else. "What’s important now is the leadership vacuum has been filled. Malabon City residents need a leader to guide them."

Four opposition Councilors — Edilberto Torres, Chiqui Roque-Villaroel, Payapa Ona and Ricky Bernardo — filed administrative charges against Vicencio over the alleged irregular purchase of a piece of land in Barangay Tanza, Navotas.