Jaen mayor retakes office in town hall

Tension marred the Jaen town hall in Nueva Ecija province after Mayor Antonio Esquivel and his supporters stormed the office of the acting chief municipal executive, dzEC radio reported Wednesday. Armed with a copy of a temporary restraining order and flanked by his supporters, Esquivel rushed to the mayor's office occupied by Vice Mayor Santiago Austria. While no one was reported killed or injured in the "takeover" attempt, the office sustained damage as Esquivel's supporters kicked the door open. Esquivel was one of several local executives ordered dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman earlier found Esquivel guilty of grave misconduct for the illegal recall of appointments of three board of directors of the Jaen Water District. The Interior department served the order after the election period started last January 14. Although he agreed to step down, Esquivel eventually obtained a 30-day temporary restraining order from the Court of Appeals. However, the dzEC report said Austria refused to leave his post and called a press conference where he said he will step down only upon the orders of the Interior Department. - GMANews.TV