This small Isabela town has 2 mayors

RAMON, Isabela — This small agricultural town, the home of the Magat Dam which is the biggest in Southeast Asia, has two mayors — one who signs vouchers, purchase and travel orders, memoranda and other documents, and the other, resolutions and ordinances passed by the municipal council.

This awkward situation cropped up after Vice Mayor Mercy Vizcarra took her oath of office on July 20 as acting mayor‚ following the July 16 order of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) nullifying the proclamation of mayor-elect Raymond Espidol (Lakas-CMD), who overwhelmingly trounced two rivals in the May 10 polls.

The Comelec issued the order after losing mayoralty bet Wilfredo Tabag (PDP-Laban) protested the alleged railroading of Espidol’s proclamation by the municipal board of canvassers despite supposed defects in 28 election returns.

Espidol, a three-term senior municipal councilor, led by almost 3,000 votes over Tabag, Vizcarra’s running mate who has lost thrice in mayoralty races.

Vizcarra, who holds office just adjacent to Espidol’s, began performing mayoral functions after lawyer Cresencio Maliwat administered her oath of office even without any sanction from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Vizcarra’s virtual takeover of the mayor’s office was bolstered when seven of the eight Sangguniang Bayan members allowed her to sign ordinances and resolutions which they had passed.

Municipal department heads, however, have refused to acknowledge Vizcarra as acting mayor despite her memoranda informing them that she has assumed the position.

The local officials continue to submit documents to Espidol for signing and approval, while heads of national government agencies here still deal with him.

Espidol has refused to leave office, insisting that the resolution of the Comelec’s second division "is not yet final and executory‚" adding that his lawyers have filed a motion for reconsideration.

"We can bring the matter up to the Supreme Court, which is the final arbiter in our judicial system," he said.

Espidol said he has also filed a criminal case against Vizcarra for usurpation of authority with the provincial prosecutor’s office.

Espidol’s legal counsel, Ernest Soberano, told The STAR that until the Comelec order is final and executory, Espidol will remain in office and will continue to perform his duties and exercise his rights as the "legitimate mayor."

Meanwhile, some members of the Sangguniang Bayan flip-flopped during their regular session last Friday as they passed a resolution urging the DILG to resolve the issue as to who is the rightful mayor.

Troops from the Provincial Mobile Group have been deployed here to prevent any violence between the supporters of Espidol and Vizcarra.