BAGUIO, Philippines – Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Wednesday, February 19, gave Urdaneta City Mayor Julio Parayno III and Vice Mayor Jimmy Parayno 10 days to comply with a Malacañang suspension order issued in January.
Speaking at a news conference at Camp John Hay, Remulla warned that he would not tolerate officials defying orders from the Office of the President.
“I give them 10 days [from Wednesday],” he said, signaling a firm stance against defiance of administrative rulings.
The suspension order against the Paraynos, issued by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on January 3, stemmed from allegations of grave misconduct and abuse of authority after they removed the local Liga ng mga Barangay president from the city council in 2022.
Urdaneta is a component city of Pangasinan province in the Ilocos Region.
Michael Brian Perez, Urdaneta’s LNB president and ex-officio city councilor, was removed on June 15, 2022, based on a manifesto calling for his ouster.
The national organization of barangays and the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Perez’s ouster was invalid and that he remained the rightful league president in Urdaneta.
Despite this, the vice mayor allegedly barred him from a council session on October 5, 2022, and another barangay chairperson was elected in his place. The move was later upheld by the city council and allegedly backed by the mayor.
Despite the order against the Paraynos, the officials have remained in office, citing procedural lapses in its implementation.
The DILG resorted to posting the suspension notice on their office doors after they refused to acknowledge it.
The Paraynos have since challenged the timing of the suspension, citing a Commission on Elections rule prohibiting the implementation of suspensions during the election period unless prior approval is granted.
However, the DILG maintained that the order remains final and executory, and the local officials must comply.
Visiting Baguio and Benguet
Remulla visited Baguio and Benguet, focusing on strengthening local governance and addressing long-standing regional concerns.
During a dialogue with local chief executives at Camp John Hay, he said he was committed to bringing national government support directly to the regions rather than making local leaders navigate the bureaucratic red tape in Manila.
“I go around visiting the provinces to effect changes so that the LGUs will be better, the DILG will be better,” Remulla said.
He stressed that in-person visits allow for more productive discussions than the rigid scheduling constraints in Manila, where local leaders must book appointments weeks in advance for brief meetings.
Remulla emphasized the importance of direct engagement with local officials. “I came to Baguio to talk to the people of the Cordillera Administrative Region. I won’t know the needs and concerns of local governments if I just stay in Manila.”
“It’s time that you de-couple yourself from Imperial Manila,” he said. “It should be us going to you, instead of you lining up to see us in Manila.”
Remulla, who was Cavite’s governor before he was appointed to head the DILG by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., acknowledged Baguio’s local government as a model for transparency and effective governance.
“I don’t think that’s a problem here in Baguio,” he said. “It’s being practiced already, and Mayor Magalong is well known for that.”
Meanwhile, Remulla met with John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) chief executive officer Marlo Quadra and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) officials on Thursday, February 20, to discuss the takeover of Camp John Hay from CJH Development Corporation (CJHDevCo).
The meeting covered legal and operational issues surrounding the transition, particularly concerns of sub-lessees affected by the Supreme Court ruling that nullified CJHDevCo’s lease agreement.
BCDA officials reiterated that sub-lessees must seek remedies directly from CJHDevCo or those who sold them the leases, as BCDA was never a party to these contracts. – Rappler.com