Citing that she has the support of the people, Mayor Mary Joyce Roquero vowed she will hold on to her post as the chief executive of Valderama, Antique even after the vice mayor was installed Wednesday.

“I am still the head of Valderama,” Roquero said, adding she has the law to back up her leadership.

Last January 23, Antique Gov. Exequiel Javier ordered Roquero’s suspension based on the charges filed by Valderrama Vice Mayor Christopher Maguad before the Antique Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Maguad accused the mayor of violation of a zoning ordinance by giving a business permit to a gasoline station allegedly located less than 100-meter from a public place – the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

However, a week before that, Roquero said the Antique Regional Trial Court handed a 20-day temporary restraining order for the supposed suspension, adding a preliminary injunction and a permanent injunction were then handed subsequently.

Later, a cease and desist order was released for Roquero’s suspension.

Aside from the court order, Roquero said the suspension order violated the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 9581 in relation to Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code as amended. 

“An elected official could not be suspended 120 days before the election,” Roquero said.

The embattled mayor believed the case against her was politically-motivated.

Roquero seeks for her reelection under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) while her erstwhile allies, Maguad and Javier, are with the Liberal Party.

Roquero’s husband, former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office director Rey, is running in Congress against Javier’s son, Paolo.

BUSINESS CONFLICT

Prior to the suspension, it was learned Mrs. Roquero had figured in a legal battle with Maguad after she ordered a temporary closure of the latter’s gasoline station as noted by the Department of Energy.

“I was hoping that they would correct their violations pero dedma lang sila,” she said.

If indeed she was culpable for violating the zoning ordinance by granting a business permit to another gasoline station, Maguad should also be held for the same breach.

“His gasoline station is also located within the 100-meter radius. But the thing is, the ordinance mentioned is deemed ineffective because it was not published in a newspaper. In essence, it was not passed,” the mayor said.

But Mrs. Roquero said she believed that Maguad looked for a way to file a case against her alleging the case against her was railroaded.

Last Monday, Roquero questioned her suspension before the Comelec and she also filed a case for indirect contempt against the governor before the Antique RTC.

PEACE AND ORDER

Meanwhile, one team from the Antique Provincial Public Safety Company was sent to augment local policemen of Valderrama town following the political standoff between the suspended mayor and the designated mayor, Maguad.

Supt. Marloe Marfil, OIC of the Antique Provincial Police Office, said they would ensure peace and order is maintained to avert possible violence.

“We are standing on neutral ground,” he said adding that even Javier did not order them to act against Roquero.

Maguad, on the other hand, believed that the supporters who barricaded the town hall were “paid supporters.”

The protesters were allegedly given rice and were assured of being listed as beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P's).*