DILG-ARMM recognizes Shariff Aguak acting mayor
Breaking News • 15:06 PM Thu Sep 18, 2014
1,501
By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
(DILG-ARMM Sec. Anwar Malang (John Unson)
COTABATO CITY
(Sept. 18) – The Department of Interior and Local Government in the Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao (DILG-ARMM) today confirmed the assumption of Vice
Mayor Marop Ampatuan of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao as the town's acting mayor. The DILG-ARMM
now recognizes Vice Mayor Ampatuan as the acting mayor of Shariff Aguak,” Lawyer
Anwar Malang, DILG-ARMM regional secretary, told DXMS Radyo Bida Cotabato
Thursday morning.
Malang said
his office was furnished a copy of the resolution ofShariff Aguak Sangguniang Bayan
declaring Mayor Sahara Upam-Ampatuan incapacitated for not reporting for work
for more than three days.
By operation
of law, if the mayor is absent or incapacitated for more than three days, the
vice mayor may assume as acting mayor,” he said, quoting the Local Government
Code.
Malang
explained that this provision of the local government code is anchored on the
two principles.
First, if the
elected mayor is absent for more than three days, and, second, even if the
mayor is in town but cannot function, the vice mayor can assume in an acting
capacity.
Especially,
if the town legislative council passed a resolution declaring the mayor is
incapacitated,” Malang said.
He said the
role of DILG-ARMM is only to issue recognition.”
This is all
temporary. If Mayor Sahara Upam-Ampatuan officially informs the town council
she can now perform her duties, she can re-assume and the vice mayor have to
pave the way,” Malang said, adding that as acting mayor, Vice Mayor Ampatuan
can only perform administrative works.
He cannot
hire or fire employees,” he said.
The DILG
regional secretary also said his office has limited information as to why Mayor
Sahara could not function.
What we have
is she is facing various charges, that’s is only what we have,” he said.
Vice Mayor Marop
assumed as acting Mayor on Tuesday.
We hope
Shariff Aguak situation will be settled peacefully and will not resort to
violence,” Malang said. The acting mayor is set to hold kanduli (thanksgiving) today.(NDBC)