Supporters hold vigil amid reported suspension of Iligan City mayor

Supporters of Iligan City Mayor Celso Regencia have been holding vigil at City Hall since Monday over allegations that he is to be suspended, a television report said Wednesday.

 

Regencia's supporters sought to block any such suspension order against the mayor, GMA Northern Mindanao's Kaye Mercado reported.

 

The report said the fears of a suspension order stemmed from rumors that Regencia was being linked to the ambush on Iligan Rep. Vicente Belmonte Jr.

 

Belmonte had suspected the ambush to be politically motivated.

 

"[Tutulungan] talaga namin siya ... walang kasalanan si Mayor sa nangyari ngayon," said Remedio Sabugaa, a supporter of Regencia.

 

"Idinarasal namin sa Panginoon na lumitaw ang tamang katarungan. Si Mayor, wala talaga siyang kasalanan sa nangyari ngayon na ipinaratang nila sa kanya," said another supporter, Diosa Dumalagan.

 

Meanwhile, the mayor has reportedly been asked by supporters not to go home yet, and that he had been sleeping at City Hall.

 

While Regencia has not commented on the issue, his chief of staff Melchor Alquizola said they were saddened over claims linking the mayor to the ambush.

 

"It's too early and I don't think that his position being a congressman, legislator, would warrant him to come up with the conclusion without waiting (for) the output or the outcome of the investigation from the proper authorities," Alquizola said.

 

Regencia's camp also said they have not received a copy of any suspension order from the Interior Department.

 

Interior Department regional director Rene Burdeos said they have not received any document about such a suspension order.

 

"We will see what legal remedy ... we are going to... make in order for us at least immediately we are going to follow the temporary restraining order and we are going to study the case and file the necessary appeal before the Court of Appeals," Alquizola said. — Joel Locsin/RSJ, GMA News