New brgy. chief of Punta Engaño assumes office

Barangay Punta Engaño, LapuLapu City now has a new chief, after Diosminda Hayashi officially assumed office yesterday.

Former barangay chief Lourdes Ibag had cleared her office in the barangay hall to give way to her replacement.

But Ibag’s camp is questioning Hayashi’s assumption into office, saying this doesn’t have the proclamation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Accompanied by her supporters, Hayashi met with the barangay staff. She had with her a document from the Comelec en banc showing that she had won the barangay elections last October 2013.

She also had with her a writ of execution from the court and other documents that she showed to the secretary.

Hayashi told Ibag and her followers, “Maghiusa ta, magtinabangay sa barangay, dili ta magkontrahay kay managsuon ra ta diri (Let’s unite and help each other in the barangay. Let’s not fight because we are one family here).”

The first thing Hayashi did when she was in her office was to wipe dust off the furniture.

Ibag’s camp, through her counsel Atty. Richard Bauzon, meanwhile, questioned the decision to replace her as barangay chief, after a meeting organized by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) of Lapu-Lapu City and the Comelec Lapu-Lapu in the MTCC, LapuLapu Hall of Justice.

An adviser of Hayashi, Emie Bustillo, said that Bauzon should inform his client to stop performing her functions as barangay chief.

But Ibag’s camp said they will not recognize Hayashi as the new barangay chief.

Ibag said she will ask for the opinion of the DILG on what to do next.

What Ibag’s camp wanted was that while there’s still no Comelec proclamation for Hayashi, the office of the barangay captain should be left vacant.

Former barangay chief’s camp is questioning new chief’s assumption into office, saying this doesn’t have the proclamation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).