Councilor Al-ag to take over Paolo Duterte’s Davao vice mayor post

Councilor Bernard Al-ag is set to take over as the new Davao City vice mayor as soon as he receives a directive from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to take the place of Paolo Duterte. (Photo: Dr. Bernie Echavez Al-ag/Facebook)

Councilor Bernard Al-ag is set to take over as the new Davao City vice mayor as soon as he receives a directive from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to take the place of Paolo Duterte.

“Today, I’m still the acting vice mayor of the city because we are still waiting for the go signal of Department of Interior and Local Government, sila ang magsabi na pupwede na akong mag-oath. Isa na lang po ang kulang, so the oathtaking na lang (They’re the ones who will tell when will I take my oath. There’s one more thing left, it’s the oathaking),” Al-ag said in a press conference in Davao City.

“Whenever we will take our oath, [I] will be officially the new vice mayor of the city. But right now for our first session for this year, I will be the acting vice mayor,” he added.

Al-ag also said that he may take his oath before Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio either in her office or at the city council.

“After noong (the) resignation ni (of) Pulong [Paolo Duterte], nag-usap kami ni Mayor Sara (Mayor Sara and I talked) about transition. We are in a transition period right now,” Al-ag said in a press conference in Davao City.

Under the Local Government Code, the next highest official shall take over the vice mayoral seat.

Al-ag is the majority leader in the city and has earned the highest percentage of votes among all city councilors in the 2016 elections.

The councilor, as vice mayor, said he plans to continue the weekly “Pulong-pulong ni Pulong” press conference, building up the local government’s online presence to make information more accessible to the public, and to provide more support for existing programs

Al-ag also shrugs off accusations that he will use Paolo’s sudden resignation as a springboard for his political career.

“I even consider this as a disruption of my plans kasi mag-end na sana ako by 2019 (Because I’m supposed to finish by 2019),” he said.

On January 5, President Rodrigo Duterte accepted the resignation of his son, Paolo. The presidential son resigned out of delicadeza, citing “recent unfortunate events in my life that are closely tied to my failed first marriage.”