Ex-Cabanatuan mayor is back

CABANATUAN CITY , Philippines  – Mayor Julius Cesar “Jay” Vergara marked his triumphant return to City Hall following a three-year absence with the return of his trusted police station commander who replaced the officer-in-charge Thursday.

In what is considered his first official act in his fourth term as mayor, Vergara witnessed the turnover of the station command between OIC station commander, Chief Inspector Edilberto Bautista and Superintendent Eliseo Cruz, recently named one of the 10 outstanding policemen by the Metro­bank Foundation. The turnover was presided over by provincial police director, Senior Superintendent Ricardo Marquez.

During Cruz’s stint, he steered the city police as best police station nationwide.

In his inaugural speech, Vergara unleashed fireworks, blasting away at his estranged cousin, ex-mayor Alvin Vergara for the latter’s failure to submit any inventory report as required by a Department of Interior and Local Government circular providing for a local governance transition team.

He said the accomplishment and inventory reports are meant to guide the new administration and pave the way for the smooth transition from the former administration.

Vergara defeated Alvin in the May 10 polls, capping a bitter feud that started late last year when the latter filed his candidacy for mayor in violation of a supposed gentleman’s agreement that he (Alvin) would step down in 2010 to give way to Vergara.

Vergara took his oath before Cabanatuan Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 3 Presiding Judge Inocencio Sagun Jr. at the jampacked Nueva Ecija Doctors Hospital gymnasium before some 5,000 supporters and officials and employees of the city government. He later swore into office Vice Mayor Marius Garcia, and councilors Joselito Roque, Angelito Saclolo Jr., Jean Yasmin Cruz, Ariel Severino, Rosendo del Rosario III, Oscar Mendoza, Mario Seeping, Jesus Diaz, Froilan Valino and Ruben Ilagan III.