By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The No. 1 councilor of Binalbagan town in Negros Occidental was formally sworn in yesterday morning as the new vice mayor of the town.

Councilor Ursecio Inodeo formally replaced Vice Mayor Samuel Gavaran who passed away last Monday morning due to complications from a kidney disease.

Inodeo was formally sworn in before town Mayor Alejandro Mirasol, and he was joined by his aunt, the town’s councilors and department heads.

In a statement issued by Mirasol, he said it was a sudden event, but they need to have a vice mayor in order for them to push on as they are facing challenges in their town.

“Vice Mayor Gavaran is a religious man, the family is asking for prayers for his soul,” he added.

In 2017, Gavaran was included in the arrest order issued by Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana due to the vice mayor’s alleged links to the Mindanao-based Maute group.

But Lorenzana subsequently cleared Gavaran after knowing that “Samuel Gavaran” on the list of wanted terrorists was a namesake of the vice mayor./DGB, WDJ