MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has designated Councilor Vicky Mabulay as acting mayor of San Sebastian, Samar amid the leadership dispute and legal issues involving its elected mayor. ADVERTISEMENT“Because of the foregoing developments and due to the existing impediments of Mayor Abalos and Vice Mayor Mabao, the department is constrained to follow the law on succession and recognize the ranking councilor as the acting mayor of San Sebastian, Samar,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement Wednesday. In July, DILG Eastern Visayas Regional Director Artemio Caneja issued a memorandum ordering San Sebastian Vice Mayor Eleuterio Mabao to assume as acting mayor, replacing Mayor Arnold Abalos. He said this caused the DILG to initially recognize Mabao as the acting mayor of San Sebastian. READ: Samar town mayor reassumes postREAD: Mayor, vice mayor clash on right to rule Samar townADVERTISEMENTTo resolve the issue and prevent an interruption in the delivery of government services in San Sebastian, Año said the DILG will “defer compliance” with the writ of preliminary injunction issued by the RTC under two grounds.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer November 13, 2019 00:09 UTC