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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Thursday, October 19, 2017
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ILOILO City – Acting Mayor Jose Espinosa III is poised to issue a memorandum circular informing all concerned offices and agencies that he has assumed the full function of a mayor, including the control and supervision of the police.
After Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog extended his leave of absence, Espinosa started exercising the full function of city mayor on Oct. 11.
Citing the Local Government Code, the acting mayor said there was no need to inform the National Police Commission (Napolcom) relative to his assuming control and supervision over the city police.
“Indi na. This serves as an announcement to all,” said Espinosa, referring to the memorandum circular he is issuing.
It is Napolcom that issues authority to local chief executives relative to their authority over the police. Mabilog was stripped of this authority in August last year after President Rodrigo Duterte tagged him a drug protector.
“I will stick to what is provided for by law. Ang akon lang ‘ya, I am assuming (the full function of mayor) because of the provisions of the Local Government Code,” said Espinosa.
With “full power”, Espinosa said he could better manage the city, especially its peace and order situation.
“And also so that we can plan ahead sa mga concerns naton,” he said.
Espinosa said he would be exercising power as mayor until Mabilog returns, and this includes the authority to appoint, hire, dismiss, suspend, and terminate employees.
Mabilog went on sick leave from Sept. 11 to 30 after attending international conferences in Japan and Malaysia, citing his diabetes. He was seeking treatment abroad, according to his spokesperson Atty. Mark Piad.
On Sept. 29, through a family member, the city mayor again filed for a 30-day extension of his sick leave at the Human Resources and Management Office of city hall.
Aside from his health, however, his wife Maria Victoria disclosed to Panay News in an internet interview that a “present threat, veiled or otherwise” was another reason for his taking a leave of absence.
Despite Mabilog’s repeated denials, President Duterte has kept on publicly tagging the city mayor an illegal drugs coddler./PN
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