Comelec serves notice of vacancy in Lucena

LUCENA CITY, Philippines  – Regional officials of the Commission of Elections (Comelec) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) yesterday served a notice of vacancy at City Hall here following the unseating of Mayor Barbara Talaga.

Provincial election supervisor Allan Enriquez and DILG regional director Jocelyn Castilla were assisted by policemen led by Superintendent Ramon Balaug, this city’s newly installed police chief, when they served the notice.

This, as nearly 1,000 supporters of Talaga continued to barricade City Hall for two days.

Last May 31, the Supreme Court issued a resolution turning down Talaga’s petition for a temporary restraining order that would stop the Comelec from executing its ruling removing her from office.

The Comelec ruling stemmed from a petition filed by former vice mayor Philip Castillo seeking the annulment of Talaga’s proclamation as mayor.

Talaga filed her certificate of candidacy as a substitute for her husband Ramon although the Comelec had ruled that the latter was disqualified from seeking another term as mayor.

“For failure of respondent Barbara Talaga to qualify, therefore a permanent vacancy was created in the position of mayor of Lucena City,” the Comelec ruling stated.

Based on the law of succession, Vice Mayor Roderick Alcala took his oath of office as the new mayor at the City Hall Annex yesterday afternoon. 

Talaga though continued to protest her ouster, saying, “I still believe in the saying ‘voice of the people, voice of God’ will prevail. The people of Lucena believe our good governance, they trust us and nothing can stop (us) from seeking the truth.”