Dumanjug welcomes new town councilor

Following the appointment of a new town's chief executive and vice mayor, a new councilor of Dumanjug, Cebu assumed this week after the seat was vacated for almost week.

Former Market Administrator Mansueto Dupal-ag took oath last Thursday before Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III as the new town councilor.

"This is all divine providence. I did not have any ambition to be here," said Dupal-ag.

He will fill the vacant position left by first councilor Cesar Baricuatro who was recently appointed to become the town's vice mayor.

Vice Mayor Rene Asentista has also been appointed as the new town mayor after the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) served their Notice to Assume early this month.

There has been a change in town's local leadership after former mayor Efren Gica was dismissed from service.

Dupal-ag is now the only municipal councilor who is from the Liberal Party (LP) after the majority of the councilors have shifted from LP to PDP-Laban.

"No, I will not change my (political) party. My father was also an opposition. I will follow his steps," he told The FREEMAN.

He added that he has been in the political arena for at least 15 years. He once served as a barangay captain of Barangay Tangil. Dupal-ag also served as a campaign manager of ex-mayor Gica.

At present, no committee has been assigned to Dupal-ag yet. He will be taking part in the municipal council session this week. He described his appointment as "unexpected" and "very abrupt." Nevertheless, he expressed that he feels honored to have been chosen as the new councilor.

Aside from the governor, other high-ranking provincial officials witnessed Dupal-ag's oathtaking were Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, Board Member Christopher Baricuatro, Representative Peter John Calderon, Asentista and Gica.