N. Ecija town has 2 mayors

ALIAGA, Nueva Ecija, Philippines – This town now has two chief executives after the camps of ousted mayor Elizabeth Vargas and her rival, court-installed Mayor Reynaldo Ordanes, both declared their hold on the post.

Vargas, who was unseated 10 days ago in an order issued by Cabanatuan Judge Virgilio Caballero, maintained she is still the mayor.

In a streamer hanging in front of the municipal compound, Vargas ended her message with the words “pa-tuloy na naglilingkod (continuously serving),” to indicate she is still in charge.

Vargas' camp circulated a copy of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) supposedly issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), stopping Caballero from enforcing a writ of execution of his decision.

The supposed TRO also ordered Ordanes to cease and desist from assuming the mayorship.  

Ordanes’ camp has dismissed the TRO, claiming it was fake as it was signed only by Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes and not by all the commissioners.