KALIBO, Aklan – Mayor Ciceron Cawaling of Malay, Aklan showed up at the town hall despite an advisory from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) directing the vice mayor assume the mayor’s post.
“Kailangan magkaisa tayo. Sa dinamirami nang ating pinagdaanan, ang boses ng bayan pa rin ang mananaig,” Cawaling told supporters yesterday.
Cawaling won his reelection bid in the May 13, 2019 elections. On June 6, he took oath before Judge Bienvenido Barrios Jr. in Kalibo.
But DILG Region 6 director Engineer Ariel Iglesia on June 27 issued an advisory directing Vice Mayor-elect Frolibar Bautista to take over as the local chief executive of Malay, which has jurisdiction over the world-famous Boracay Island.
The DILG advisory came after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered Cawaling dismissed in April 2019, right after he reported back to office from a six-month preventive suspension.
The Ombudsman found Cawaling and business licensing officer Jen Salsona guilty of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, conduct unbecoming of a public official, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service – all in relation to negligence over Boracay’s environmental health.
Cawaling’s dismissal came with forfeiture of retirement benefits and disqualification for re-employment in government office./PN
