THE DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) implemented over the weekend the directive of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to appoint Vice Mayor Victor U. Perete as the acting mayor of Daraga. The DILG-Region 5 and Comelec jointly decided that incumbent Mayor Carlwyn Baldo is temporarily incapacitated from performing his duties as a local chief executive. Mr. Baldo has been confined at the UST Hospital in Legazpi City due to asthma attack following his arrest last Jan. 23 for illegal possession of firearms and explosives. Mr. Baldo, the alleged mastermind of the slay of AKO Bicol Rep. Rodel M. Batocabe, appointed Councilor Joey Marcellana as the officer-in-charge mayor a day after he was arrested. However, DILG declared the appointment as void and has no legal effect. Jerry Rafael, the town’s “first” councilor for getting the most number of votes in the elections, will assume the post of acting vice-mayor. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras
