*Respondent mayor files motion for reconsideration,
DILG names new acting mayor & new acting vice mayor
MARCOS, Ilocos Norte, Aug. 17–The Department of Interior and Local Government named Allan Coloma as new acting mayor of this town to replace one-month-long mayor Rofel Pambid. Coloma, a senior councilor, acted earlier as acting vice mayor of Pambid.
Pambid was unseated through a decision approved last July 12, 2017, by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.
The Ombudsman decision said “Rofel Rosal Pambid is found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and grave misconduct”.
The case arose from the complaint filed against him in September 2015 by then ABC president Jessie Hermitaño when he (Pambid) was still municipal councilor of this town.
The case pertains to the controversy on the two payloader tires owned by the municipal government which the respondent borrowed that dragged him into the mess.
The DILG provincial officer in charge of Ilocos Norte confirmed that the DILG regional director arrived here yesterday and personally served the Ombudsman decision on Pambid who peacefully accepted the Ombudsman decision which meted him the penalty of dismissal from the service with accessory penalty.
However, a report said that Pambid, aided by his lawyer, had already filed a motion for reconsideration seeking for the reversal of the Ombudsman decision.
The DILG Ilocos Norte OIC said Coloma got appointed as acting mayor and likewise, Sherwin Tamayo as acting vice mayor by law of succession.
Pambid, Coloma and Tamayo were duly elected ranking councilors in that order during the last local polls.
Former vice mayor and now councilor Jonel Rosqueta said the rise of Coloma and Tamayo to their new positions would not adversely affect the Sangguniang Bayan sessions noting they could still muster a quorum.
It may be recalled that incumbent elected mayor Arsenio Agustin of this town was assassinated last June 3, 2017.
His successor acting mayor Jessie Hermitaño was later arrested and detained last July 14, 2017, after he was tagged as alleged mastermind in the killing of Mayor Agustin.
Pambid, the then vice mayor, replaced Hermitaño but his term in office was cut short yesterday when the Ombudsman decision was served to him for his ouster.
Pambid is the son of the late Marcos town mayor Rogelio Pambid who was also assassinated a few years ago. (TRI-MEDIA report)
