ILOILO City – Raul Banias is leaving his position as provincial administrator of the Iloilo provincial government. Tuesday next week will be his last day on the post.
That day Banias will file his certificate of candidacy (COC) for mayor of Concepcion town as a substitute candidate in the 2019 midterm elections.
He will replace Association of Barangay Councils president Delfin Gregorio, who will withdraw his candidacy that day, too.
Banias will be deemed resigned as provincial administrator as soon as he files a COC, based on Commission on Elections guidelines.
Individuals holding a public appointive office or position, including active members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other officers and employees in government-owned and -controlled corporations who file COCs are “considered automatically resigned from their posts,” Comelec said.
“Ako mismo ang makadto sa Tuesday sa Comelec to file my COC as a substitute candidate sa kay Gregorio,” Banias confirmed.
“So, automatic nga sa pag-file ko sang COC, resigned man ako sa akon trabaho. So, I’m only up to Nov. 27,” he added.
For the 2019 midterm polls, “substitution of candidacy due to withdrawal” is allowed only until Nov. 29, 2018, said Comelec.
Under Comelec Resolution 10420, there are only three scenarios where substitution may be allowed: withdrawal of candidacy, death of the candidate and disqualification of the candidate.
In addition, the withdrawing candidate and the replacement candidate must belong to the same political party.
Banias and Gregorio were under the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan, or PDP-Laban.
Meanwhile Banias disclosed that they were looking at having Atty. Suzette Mamon, provincial legal officer, as acting provincial administrator.
“The governor (Arthur Defensor Sr.) and I were talking about this, and I think he will approve of this,” said Banias.
Banias also recommended Dr. Alberto Cordero, chief of Guimbal District Hospital, as his replacement as officer-in-charge of the Hospital Management Office (HMO).
Banias was appointed provincial administrator when Defensor assumed the governorship on July 1, 2010.
Defensor later on made him OIC of the HMO and head of the Task Force on Provincial Bantay Dagat and the Task Force Overloading.
“I’d like to thank governor for this opportunity,” Banias said, noting that initially he was supposed to work for Defensor for only six months.
“But I stayed this long because I love working with the governor. He never compromised my principles, honest kag indi sia corrupt, amo na nga daw nagsahu-anay man kami,” said Banias.
Prior to his stint in the provincial government, Banias served as presidential adviser for Western Visayas when Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the current House speaker, was president. He was also mayor of Concepcion for nine years./PN
