Sun.Star: DILG installs Pecson as Magalang mayor

MAGALANG, Pampanga -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has affirmed the court's decision, declaring businessman Romulo Pecson as the real winner of the May 2007 mayoralty election here. This, after the sitting Mayor Lyndon Cunanan failed to comply with his "gentlemen's agreement" with Pecson. "Considering that no injunction or order has been issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) suspending the effectivity of the writ of execution issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 56 in EPE Case No. (07) 0751 Re: Romulo F. Pecson v. Lyndon A. Cunanan, this office pursuant to the writ hereby recognizes Romulo Pecson as the Mayor of the Municipality of Magalang, Pampanga," DILG Regional Director Josefina Castilla-Go stated in her memorandum last Wednesday. Last Monday, Pecson and Cunanan agreed to install Municipal Treasurer Fausto Sengson Jr. as the town's caretaker from Holy Monday to Holy Wednesday. The DILG regional office and Pampanga Provincial Police Office facilitated the "gentlemen's agreement" between the rival politicians. Under the agreement, Cunanan will vacate the mayor's office if he fails to secure an injunction from the Comelec or Supreme Court (SC) by noon of Holy Wednesday. Otherwise, Pecson will leave the town hall premises and allow his rival to continue serving the townsfolk here as their mayor. Although the two did not sit down together to talk about the agreement, Go and Police Provincial Director Keith Singian were able to convince them to subject themselves to it. Last Wednesday, however, Cunanan refused to vacate the Office of the Mayor, citing the order he received from the Comelec last Tuesday requires him and Pecson to appear before the election body's hearing on April 1. "The Comelec en banc resolved to require private respondent to file his Comment/Opposition thereto within three days from receipt thereof. Let the hearing hereof be set on Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 10 a.m. at the Comelec Session Hall, 8th Floor, Palacio del Gobernador, Intramuros, Manila," the order stated. On Monday, Go described the "gentlemen's agreement" between Cunanan and Pecson as a very good development. She said the "transition and cooling off" period will result in lesser tension and prevent untoward incidents between the supporters of both camps. - Sun.Star