CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The Department of Interior and Local Government on Wednesday reinstated dismissed Mayor Oscar Moreno as city mayor pending the resolution of the Ombudsman of his administrative case.
DILG Region 10 director Nilo Castanares said the directive will end the confusion of who is the city mayor and end a five-day standoff and avert any possible violence at the city hall.
“We cannot have two mayors. Moreno is recognized as mayor. Acenas will stay as vice mayor,” Castanares said.
He added that Moreno would stay as mayor until the Ombudsman decides on the motion of reconsideration filed by Moreno.
He urged Vice Mayor Ian Acenas and his supporters from the Padayon Party to comply with the directive and step down as mayor of Cagayan de Oro.
Castanares said they will hold Acenas and Councilor Candy Darimbang liable if they continue their functions as mayor and vice mayor.
DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero issued the directive last Tuesday night; it was delivered to Acenas and Darimbang immediately.
The DILG on Nov. 12 installed Acenas and Darimbang as mayor and vice mayor replacing Moreno following his dismissal by the Ombudsman.
Castanares said Acenas had refused to sign and acknowledge the directive which was delivered to him on Tuesday night.
“The DILG staff and the police have left a copy in the office of Acenas. We deemed the directive as already delivered,” he said.
Moreno won a 60-day reprieve from the Ombudsman order after the Court of Appeals issued a temporary restraining order a day after the DILG installed Acenas and Darimbang.
Acenas refused to recognize the TRO from the Court of Appeals saying the issuance was “moot and academic” because they were already installed by the DILG.