ILOILO – Newly elected officials will assume office tomorrow, July 1 – but not Mayor-elect Frankie Locsin of Janiuay town, according to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 6.
Locsin cannot sit as the town’s local chief executive after being convicted with “final judgment” for violation of Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, said DILG regional director Engineer Ariel Iglesia.
Locsin – arrested last June 3 at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Region 6 office where he intended to secure a clearance for his gun license application – will have to serve a jail term of six to 10 years and is also perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
“May final conviction kasi siya (Locsin) from Supreme Court so it carries ‘yung inherent accessory penalty na disqualification to hold public office; meaning he cannot assume as municipal mayor,” Iglesia told Panay News on Saturday.
Janiuay’s vice mayor-elect Dr. Ben Margarico will take over Locsin’s position, added Iglesia, citing the Philippine rule of succession.
“Of course, ‘yung vice mayor will assume as vice mayor. Then eventually he will assume the position of the municipal mayor. Siguro by Monday pwede na siyang mag-assume as the municipal mayor kasi that’s tantamount to permanent vacancy ‘yung final conviction ni Locsin,” the DILG regional chief said.
Margarico and other newly elected officials were originally set to assume office today, June 30 but since it is a Sunday, their assumption was moved one day later.
With Margarico sitting as mayor, the No. 1 Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member-elect Atty. Felizardo Amigable will be the town’s vice mayor, leaving vacant one seat in the municipal council.
Asked about the vacancy, Iglesia said: “The first SB member na naging vice mayor ang nag-cause ng vacancy. So, kung ano ‘yung partido nung nag-cause ng vacancy, doon mangagaling ang dapat ma-appoint na papalit sa vacant position.”
Amigable is a member of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
According to Iglesia, Governor-elect Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. will be the one to appoint the new SB member of Janiuay, which he will choose from a list that Amigable will submit.
The chosen replacement will then have to secure a certification from the highest ranking officer of PDP-Laban, said Iglesia.
Meanwhile, Loscin – who was still under hospital arrest at The Medical City – said he cannot do anything but follow the court’s order.
Right after his arrest at the NBI office earlier this month, Locsin was taken to the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Mandurriao district. He suffered from hypertension.
His family then requested that Locsin be transferred to The Medical City in Molo district, which the NBI granted.
Days before the May 13 midterm elections, it was reported that Locsin failed to secure a favorable ruling from the Supreme Court where he appealed his February 2015 Sandiganbayan conviction for graft.
The Sandiganbayan found him and five others guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating Section 3(e) of RA 3019.
The graft case stemmed from medicine purchases of the local government of Janiuay using P15 million from Sen. Vicente Sotto’s Priority Development Assistance Fund way back in 2001.
The medical supply contract was awarded to a supplier whose accreditation was suspended by the Department of Health thus making it supposedly unqualified to join the bidding.
Aside from Locsin, the Sandiganbayan First Division also convicted Accountant Carlos Moreno Jr., Budget Officer Ramon Tirador, Treasurer Luzviminda Figueroa, Ricardo Minurtio, and businessman Rodrigo Villanueva./PN
