Daraga Vice Mayor Perete assumes mayoral post

FILE: ACTING MAYOR. Daraga Vice Mayor Victor Perete assumes the mayoral post following the release of the order of the Department of the Interior and Local Government on Friday afternoon (May 10, 2019). Perete also issued a memorandum before the closing of office hours, informing Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara, members of the Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) and department heads of the town, that he is assuming as acting mayor of Daraga effective May 10. (Photo from Facebook page of Daraga Vice Mayor Victor Perete via PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY — Daraga Vice Mayor Victor Perete assumed on Friday afternoon the mayoral post based on the order of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) designating him as acting town mayor following the detention of Mayor Carlwyn Baldo.

Baldo, accused of double murder and six counts of attempted murder, is being detained at the Legazpi City jail.

Baldo has been tagged by the police as the alleged mastermind in the assassination of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his security escort in December 2018.

The order, signed on Friday by DILG 5 (Bicol) Director Anthony Nuyda, said that after due deliberation by the joint committee task force of the Commission on Elections and the DILG, it has found no impediment to the implementation of the rule on succession under the provision of the Local Government Code.

The order cited that “in view of the detention of Baldo and rendering him temporarily incapacitated to perform his duties, Perete being the vice mayor and upon receipt of this memorandum order may already assume as acting mayor of the town in accordance with Sec. 46 of RA 7160.”

Perete upon receipt of the order late afternoon of the same day was directed to coordinate with the DILG provincial office and the municipal chief of office for the smooth and effective implementation of his assumption as acting town mayor.

In compliance with the DILG order, Perete also issued a memorandum before the closing of office hours, informing Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara, members of the Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) and department heads of the town, that he is assuming as acting mayor of Daraga effective May 10.

Perete and Gertie Batocabe, widow of the slain party-list congressman, are both contesting the mayoral post of Baldo, who is also running for reelection.