Bulacan – After more than three weeks of waiting, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Bulacan has finally served the suspension order against San Ildefonso Mayor Paula Carla Galvez-Tan who vacated her post without resistance on Wednesday.
DILG-Bulacan Darwin David, accompanied by Bulacan Police acting director Senior Supt. Chi-to Bersaluna served the suspension order against Tan.
Suspended Mayor Carla Galvez was emotional after receiving the 9-month suspension against her by the Ombudsman. DILG-Bulacan served the suspension order on Wednesday. The lady mayor peacefully vacated her post.
Vice Mayor Luis Sarrondo now serves as acting mayor while first municipal councilor Alexander Galvez will assume the vice mayor office as acting presiding officer of the Sangguniang Bayan, DILG official said.
Tan was suspended by the Ombudsman for nine months.
A platoon from the 2nd Police Mobile Force augmented from the police stations of Norzagaray, San Rafael, Angat and San Miguel were dispatched earlier before the order was served to secure peace and order situation after some 300 supporters of Mayor Tan trooped at the municipal hall to show their support.
For two consecutive Fridays (August 17 and 24), hundreds of supporters of Galvez-Tan gathered in front of the municipal building in a bid to block the serving of the suspension order but yesterday they were told by Tan not to interfere.
Last Friday, the Office of the Ombudsman was requested to order the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to enforce the serving of the suspension order on Galvez-Tan.
The Office of the Ombudsman found the lady mayor “administratively liable for conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service and Simple Misconduct and is meted the penalty of suspension from office for nine months without pay”.
The suspension order was based on the complaints filed by Sarrondo and four of its municipal councilors, Alexander Galvez, Eriberto Magbitang , Roderick Salvador and Edgardo Vergel.
Acting Mayor Sarrondo while showing the suspension order against suspended Mayor Carla Galvez. –Photo by ERICK SILVERIO
Sarrondo said that first thing he will do is to meet all the department heads and he will tell them to set aside the politics issue and assured the government transaction and businesses continues.
The acting mayor clarified that his new office will be open to everyone who needs and seeks the service of the local government through them as public servants.
“Rest assured that I will entertain them all no matter if they are supporters of suspended mayor or my supporters, my task is to serve the people of San Ildefonso.. no more politics, I will do my job honestly and with fear to God for the sake of the people,” Sarrondo said.