DILG recognizes Ricky Bulahan as Acting Mayor of Bonifacio

MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL, June 8, 2023--With the number of urgent requests forwarded to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Central Management Office (CMO) for guidance, and the continued deadlock of governance in the municipality of Bonifacio, the DILG-CMO has recognized Ricky Bulahan as acting Mayor of Bonifacio, June 8.

“By virtue of the suspension order and by succession and the designation of the provincial government, of course, Ricky Bulahan is the Mayor. Sila ang gi recognized sa DILG (They are the one recognized by the DILG). In the meantime, we are recognizing the acting Mayor, if other courts are questioning our action or recognition so be it, that's why we have the government represented by the DILG, and is telling them that the mayor is [Ricky Bulahan] as of now because there is no court order coming from a competent authority,’’ DILG-10 Regional Director Wilhelm M. Suyko said.

Suyko explained that padlocking a property is not an act of a normal person nor a civilized person especially if it is government property. The Regional Director added that the DILG is exerting their effort to convince the suspended mayor and vice mayor to temporarily vacate the office.

“We have exerted tolerance for the past 2 weeks, we have been telling them to vacate so that the government would run smoothly but they keep on refusing and even other people from other regions speak on their behalf,” Suyko added.

The DILG has emphasized that the acting mayor has the authority to request an order for the suspended Mayor and Vice Mayor Dumanjug to vacate the office with the assistance of the Philippine National Police (PNP) after the given time. (NCN)