BORACAY – Vice Mayor Abram Sualog took oath as the acting Malay, Aklan mayor yesterday, the first day of the official reopening of this world-famous island resort.
Sualog took oath before Department of the Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Eduardo Año.
He took over the mayor’s position after a six-month preventive suspension was issued against Mayor Ceciron Cawaling on Thursday.
Sualog said he will give his “full cooperation to the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) as the island reopens after its six months of rehabilitation.”
The island reopening is the “best moment” for those who will regain their jobs, added Sualog.
The acting mayor is set to meet all the department heads of the local government unit of Malay regarding the reopening.
The Office of the Ombudsman ordered Cawaling suspended for gross neglect of duty, unbecoming conduct of a public officer and grave misconduct.
This is in relation to the criminal and administrative charges filed by Interior undersecretary Epimaco Densing for his issuance of mayor’s permit to some 20 establishments even without the required fire safety certificate from the Bureau of Fire Protection.
“The infractions of Cawaling and Salsona (Jen Salsona, licensing officer of Malay) supposedly resulted in the widespread water pollution and degradation of the Boracay Island’s ecosystem,” part of the three-page Ombudsman order read. (With a report from PNA/PN)
