DILG REINSTATES OUSTED NUEVA ECIJA MAYOR

JAEN, NUEVA ECIJA—Mayor Sylvia Austria, who was forced out of office last year, reclaimed her post on Monday after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) imposed the 60-day status quo order by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Jay Timbreza, assistant regional director of the DILG in Central Luzon, and lawyer Jackie Paulino, the agency’s counsel, served the order that paved the way for Austria to get her post back from her rival, Antonio Prospero Esquivel, around 5 p.m.

The Comelec’s Second Division also issued a preliminary injunction that would allow Austria to stay in office until her petition against the court decision that installed Esquivel is resolved.

In a letter recognizing the Comelec’s order, Undersecretary Bernardo Florece, the DILG officer in charge, said implementing the status quo would “prevent political impasse in the municipality and ensure that delivery of basic services to the people remains unhampered.”

Police Col. Jaime Santos, acting Nueva Ecija police director, accompanied Austria as she returned to the town hall on Tuesday morning. Esquivel left the building on Monday night, more than an hour after the DILG order was served.

Esquivel replaced Austria on Dec. 22 after a local court ruled in favor of his protest against Austria’s victory in the May 2019 elections.

But Austria filed a petition in the Comelec, which subsequently issued the status quo order on Feb. 3, directing Esquivel to peacefully turn over the post to Austria.

Austria, upon resuming her duties, met with heads of offices and promised to continue her infrastructure and social programs, including the distribution of pension for the elderly in the town.