ILOILO City – The incoming No. 1 barangay kagawad in Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao district will take over as punong barangay in light of the death of re-elected Barangay Captain Remia Prevendido Gregori.
Gregori has yet to complete her current term while her new term was supposed to start noon of June 30.
But her death created a “permanent vacancy” in the village leadership, said Department of the Interior and Local Government – Iloilo City head Ferdinand Panes.
Current No. 1 kagawad Yorelinda Palomo shall sit as punong barangay effective June 25 to serve the remaining six days in Gregori’s current term, Panes said.
But newly elected No. 1 kagawad Joel Alvarado will automatically assume as punong barangay noon of June 30.
“I am advising him (Alvarado) through the media nga mag-coordinate lang sa amon,” said Panes. “Noon of June 30, kon nakasumpa na sia as kagawad, immediately masumpa man sia as punong barangay by virtue of succession.”
Palomo and Alvarado may take their respective oaths as succeeding punong barangays before any administering officer allowed by law, Panes added.
Gregori, sister of slain drug lord Richard Prevendido, was shot by armed men at her beach resort in Barangay Igcadlum, San Joaquin, Iloilo on Sunday afternoon.
A high-value target of the Mandurriao police in the campaign against illegal drugs, she died of multiple gunshot wounds at the San Joaquin Mother and Child Hospital with her aide, Analee Antipatia.
Her husband Bonifacio Sr. survived the attack but sustained a gunshot wound on a leg.
Meanwhile, for the vacant kagawad post, the barangay council shall nominate a candidate to be appointed by Mayor Jose Espinosa III, Panes said, citing the Local Government Code./PN
