Security tightened in Imus, Cavite for mayoralty turnover

Police in Cavite province tightened security in Imus town early Wednesday for the possible turnover of the mayoralty post from Homer Saquilayan to Emmanuel Maliksi.

 

Cavite provincial police chief Senior Superintendent John Bulalacao ordered the tighter security after Saquilayan's supporters held a vigil Tuesday night.

 

Bulalacao deployed Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) units to the town hall to ensure peace and order, radio dzBB's Paulo Santos reported early Wednesday.

 

The report said the Cavite police chief also enlisted the help of local officials as force multipliers to prevent any untoward incident.

 

Imus Regional Trial Court Judge Cesar Mangrobang declared Maliksi last Nov. 28 as 

the mayor of the town, unseating Saquilayan, after hearing the electoral protest filed by Maliksi.

 

Mangrobang gave Saquilayan until Dec. 27 or 20 working days to stay in office.

 

Saquilayan then filed a petition before the Commission on Elections for a temporary restraining order to stop his ouster from office. The Comelec denied his petition.

 

Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento has reportedly said Maliksi in effect will be the sitting mayor while the case is pending before the Comelec First Division.

 

The Comelec pronounced Saquilayan as the winner of the mayoralty post in Imus in the May 2010 elections after he won by 8,499 votes over Maliksi. –KG, GMA News