Who is in-charge while Treñas, Mabilog enjoy their vacation?

By Francis Allan L. Angelo
ILOILO City has no vice mayor for the moment which could hamper services in the City Hall, particularly today’s regular session.

The problem cropped up when both Mayor Jerry Treñas and Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog went abroad for official and personal trips.

Treñas, who was elected Iloilo City congressman in the 2010 elections, went to China for an official trip and will then proceed to Hong Kong for vacation.

Mabilog, who won the mayoralty race, reportedly went to Canada where his wife is working although his leave papers said he will attend an official function also.

In a memorandum order dated May 19, Treñas designated Councilor Erwin Plagata as acting mayor until the mayor returns to the city.

Incidentally, Mabilog also appointed Plagata as acting vice mayor being the number 1 councilor in the 2007 elections.

Plagata said he received Mabilog’s designation order as acting vice mayor ahead of Treñas’ memorandum.

“As early as May 17, Vice Mayor Mabilog called and informed me that he will designate as vice mayor because he is going abroad,” Plagata said.

But Plagata later accepted Treñas’ order designating him as acting mayor as part of his legal obligations.

Before relinquishing the office of the vice mayor, Plagata said he designated Councilor Julienne Baronda to be the acting vice mayor.

Plagata said Baronda accepted the designation but the latter went on vacation following her loss in the vice mayoralty race of the city.

Baronda in turn designated Councilor Antonio Pesina to take over the second top post in the City Hall but the diminutive councilman questioned the designation order.

Pesina said delegated authority cannot be further delegated by the recipient.

“Councilor Baronda has no authority to designate me because she is only acting on delegated authority,” Pesina said

Aside from presiding over the session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the vice mayor also signs the payroll, leave applications and other administrative papers pertaining to the city’s legislative branch.

The salaries of SP workers are in danger with the absence of an acting vice mayor who will sign the papers.

Councilor Perla Zulueta said she is also at a loss as to who is the city vice mayor.

“I was also asking around who is sitting as vice mayor and who will sign the papers in the Sanggunian. I don’t even know what will happen on our session on Wednesday,” Zulueta said.

Treñas and Mabilog are expected to return first week of June.