Published February 10, 2021, 8:39 PM
Gen. Debold M. Sinas, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), ordered the Central Luzon regional police commander to intervene in the immediate solution of the political standoff in Jaen, Nueva Ecija amid concerns that it may result in an uncontrolled spark of violence soon.
PNP Chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
The PNP has been observing apolitical stand on the quarrel between Antonio Prospero Esquivel and Sylvia Austria who are both insisting that they are the legitimate mayor of Jaen town but the last straw for Sinas was when an explosion occurred in the town proper on Tuesday night.
PRO3 DIRECTOR GEN DE LEON ESCORTS JAEN MAYOR AS SHE STEPS DOWN FROM OFFICE LAST DECEMBER 21 (PRO/ MANILA BULLETIN/ FILE PHOTO)
Austria, who had voluntarily stepped down as mayor last December 21 on orders of a regional trial court, was accompanied by eight town councilors when she tried to present Esquivel a temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Monday afternoon.
The town councilors earlier withdrew their support from Esquivel, who assumed his post as mayor on the strength of a decision rendered by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Angelo Perez based on a recount of the votes.
Published January 14, 2021, 9:31 AM
JAEN , Nueva Ecija – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a cease and desist order on a regional trial court (RTC) that installed a candidate who lost to an incumbent mayor in the May 13, 2019 elections but was lately proclaimed winner in November following a ballots recount.
In a three-page decision penned by Commissioner Socorro Inting of the Comelec’s 2nd Division dated January 12, 2021, a copy of which was obtained by the Manila Bulletin, a 60-day Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) was issued “enjoining” Judge Angelo Perez, of Gapan City RTC branch 87, to cease and desist from enforcing and implementing the “Notice and Certificate of Finality, Order of Execution, and Writ of Execution” of the December 16,. 2020 decision in favor of Antonio Prospero Esquivel.
A former mayor of Jaen town, Nueva Ecija wants the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to reinstate her, claiming that she had been illegally ousted from her post.
In a 36-page petition for certiorari and prohibition, Sylvia Austria also asked the Comelec to unseat Antonio Prospero Esquivel, who had assumed the mayorship.
Austria asked the electoral body to block the writ of execution order issued by Judge Angelo Perez of the Regional Trial Court Third Judicial Region last December 7 directing Austria to vacate her office, clearing the way for Esquivel’s takeover.
Esquivel was sworn in on December 16 by Judge John Voltaire Venturina of Gapan City.