After serving as acting Iloilo City mayor, with Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog out of the country since the end of August, Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III announced he would be assuming full powers as mayor.

Through Memorandum Circular No. CMO 1702, he cited Section 46 of RA 7160, or the Local Government Code of the Philippines, which outlines the policies regarding the temporary vacancy of office for local chief executives.

He also cited functions and duties, as outlined by the law, including appointment powers and overseeing local law enforcement.

With Mabilog included on President Rodrigo Duterte’s list of politicians said to have links to illegal drugs, he was stripped of police powers.

Copies of the memorandum circular were furnished to the directors of Department of the Interior and Local Government-Region VI (DILG-6), the National Police Commission Regional Office-6 (Napolcom-6), the Police Regional Office-6 (PRO-6), the Iloilo City DILG, and the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).

Earlier this month, after stating Mabilog would return to Iloilo City at the end of September, following a sick leave that was initiated on September 11, which immediately followed two consecutive trips overseas, spokesperson for the mayor, Atty. Mark Piad, said the city official’s sick leave would be extended another 30 days.

Prior to announcing his sick leave, it was revealed the mayor served as speaker at a disaster-risk reduction forum in Japan and attended the Environmental Urban Accord Summit in Malaysia./WDJ