Family member to replace deceased local legislator

BAGUIO City Mayor Mauricio Domogan announced that a family member of the influential Ortega clan in La Union will replace the late Councilor Roberto Ortega who earlier succumbed to a lingering illness.

The local chief executive admitted he already met with the two brothers of the late local legislator and it was conveyed to him that the Ortega clan will be united in recommending one of their clan members to replace the deceased councilor and will serve his unexpired term.

However, he said it was impressed upon the two Ortega clan members the recommended replacement of the late councillor should be qualified under the existing guidelines in the replacement of elected officials who fail to complete their term of office due to death, incapacity to perform their assigned duties and responsibilities among others.

Domogan explained once the recommended replacement will be proven to be qualified under the rules, the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) will in turn recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte his appointment as a City Councilor and serve the unexpired term of the deceased councilor.

Under existing rules and regulations, the political party that caused the vacancy in the local legislative body will be the one that will recommend to the President the appointment of the replacement of his or

her successor to serve the unexpired term of the one that caused the vacancy.

The Baguio chapter of UNA will be meeting next week to finalize the recommendation of Francisco Pacoy Ortega VI to replace the late Councilor Roberto Ortega and to serve his unexpired term.

The late Councilor Ortega served as chief of police of the Baguio city Police Office (BCPO) in the late 1980s and was instrumental in achieving a zero crime rate in the city during his term. He also served as a member of the local legislative body from 1995 to 2001 and from 2013 up to 2017 before he succumbed to a lingering illness at the age of 78.

During his term as local legislator, Ortega served as the chairman of the Committee on Peace and Order and Public Safety and the City Antidrug Abuse Council (CADAC) where he worked out the implementation of the reward system for tipsters of wanted persons, drug personalities among others to help curb the proliferation of crimes in the different parts of the city.

Domogan expressed his gratitude to the Ortega clan for being united in recommending one of their qualified clan members to replace the late Councilor Ortega because it made the job of the party easier in finding the appropriate replacement for the deceased councilor.

He also is confident the Office of the President will immediately act on the recommended replacement of the deceased local legislator so he will be able to continue the implementation of the programs and projects that were left by the deceased councilor, especially in helping maintain law and order in the different parts of the city so foreign and domestic visitors will be enticed to frequent the city and help spur the growth of the local tourism industry because it is peaceful and orderly. Dexter See/Baguio City PIO