E. Samar town has 2 mayors

CATBALOGAN CITY, Philippines — Residents of San Policarpo, a remote agricultural town in Eastern Samar, are now in a sticky situation as they have two mayors: Condrado Nicart III and Virginia Acol.

Nicart has refused to vacate his office on the second floor of the Municipal Hall despite a court order for him to relinquish his post to his May 2013 election rival, Virginia Acol, who was declared duly elected mayor of the town.

In a 40-page ruling, dated June 30, Judge Juliana White of the Regional Trial Court-Branch 5 based in Oras town, ordered Nicart to immediately vacate his office in favor of Acol.

Nicart, however, reportedly defied the order and has holed himself up in his office since July 18, with his supporters also camping out outside the town hall to "protect" him.

While policemen were deployed to ensure peace and order between the two warring parties, Nicart said: "I believe I'm the real winner (in the last elections). I will not give up my seat," adding that stepping down "would do injustice" to his constituents.

"I would only step down and leave this office if there is already a final order and a directive from the Department of the Interior and Local Government," Nicart said, as he announced that he would also file an appeal before the Commission on Elections.

Nicart, son of Eastern Samar Governor Conrado Nicart Jr., ran under the banner of the Liberal Party, and Acol, under the Nacionalista Party.

On May 14, 2013, the board of canvassers proclaimed Nicart winner with 3,945 votes against Acol's 3,857 or a difference of 88 votes.

Acol subsequently accused Nicart of committing electoral fraud and sought for a recount of votes. Nicart, who is supposedly serving his third and last term as mayor, however denied Acol's allegations, but the recount pushed through anyway.

Based on the recount of votes in 18 clustered precincts, the court finally declared that Acol garnered 3,773 votes against Nicart's 3,667 votes or a margin of 106 votes.

San Policarpo, a fifth-class municipality, is one of the country's poorest towns with only 17 villages and a population of 13,836, mostly dependent on fishing and farming, based on the 2010 census. — Ricky Bautista/PhilStar News