Ilocos Norte town has 2 mayors

MARCOS, Ilocos Norte, Philippines – The two rivals for the mayoral post here continued to hold office at the town hall for the third day yesterday as both awaited resolution of the conflict triggered by a disqualification case filed by the losing candidate in the May 13 polls against the proclaimed winner.

Outgoing mayor Salvador Pillos and proclaimed winner Arsenio Agustin have been holding court at the mayor’s office and accounting office, respectively, since Monday, the first day of work for elected officials.

Roger Daquioag, provincial director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, said they were awaiting orders from the DILG main office in Manila on how to resolve the issue on who should rightfully assume the mayoral post.

Pillos, who lost to Agustin, is holding on to the mayoral post, claiming that the Commission on Elections has disqualified Agustin to run in the polls and that a writ of execution was supposedly issued to annul his proclamation.

For his part, Agustin said it was he, not Pillos, who was elected by the people.

He said  he intends to question his reported disqualification before the Supreme Court even as Gov. Imee Marcos urged Pillos to step down. – With Charlie Lagasca