Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III terminated the five members of the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) board of directors, following a recent Supreme Court en banc decision that found Section 3(b) of Presidential Decree 198, or the Provincial Water Utilities Act, which determines appointment powers over the local water district, unconstitutional.

Among those given the boot were MIWD chair, Dr. Ted Robles; Atty. Juanito Acanto, Sr.; Dr. Jessica Salas; Josephine Abad-Caram; and Ramon Cua-Locsin; all appointed by Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr.

The Regional Trial Court-Branch 24 earlier granted Defensor appointment powers over the MIWD, citing the said decree, which gives the governor appointment powers if less than 75 percent of active water service connections fall within the boundaries of a local government unit.

Following the Supreme Court decision, surrounding appointment powers among Cebu City officials, Espinosa filed a cease and desist order and revealed plans to appoint a new set of board members.

Meanwhile, MIWD General Manager Imelda Magsuci said their legal counsel is currently reviewing the said ruling./WDJ