Acting Daraga mayor wants politics set aside

DARAGA, ALBAY---Acting Mayor Victor Peretehas called on employees atDaraga municipal hall to set aside politics and work together to better serve the public.

Perete officially assumed his post as acting municipal mayor as a matter of coursefollowing Mayor Carlwyn “Awin” Baldo’s arrest on January 22, this year, for illegal possession of firearms.

Baldohas been accused as the mastermind in the double murder ofAko Bicol party-list Representative RodelBatocabe and his police escort, SP02 Orlando Diaz.

The victims were distributing Christmas gifts to senior citizens and PWDs at the covered court of Burgos Elementary School here last December 22, 2018 when they were gunned down reportedly by no less than 6 hired killers.

The town has consequently been placed under Comelec control.

Last Friday, the Comelec ordered Atty. Anthony Nuyda, DILG regional director, to install vice mayor Victor Perete as acting mayor following Baldo’s arrest and unstable health condition.

Perete

LastMonday morning, Perete finally took Baldo’s seat and asked employees to resume working together regardless of their political affiliations.

“My assumption as your acting mayor is based on mandate and directive given by DILG that also includes CouncilorJungieJaucian’s assumption as acting vice mayor,” Perete told the employees.

“We need to work together without political color. There will be no changes, job orders will continue to work and receive your salaries,” he said.

Perete is a political rival of Mayor CarlwynBaldo, along with slain Batocabe.Perete is running under the wing of Rep. Joey SarteSalceda of PDP Laban.

Perete started in local politics in 2007 as village chieftain of Barangay San Roque of this town for three consecutive terms.

In 2013, Perete served as an ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Bayan after he was chosen as president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC).

In 2016, Perete was invited by the late mayor Gerry Jaucian to run for town councilor under his ticket and won as topnotcherlocal legislator.

When Mayor Jaucian died of cancer, then Vice Mayor CarlwynBaldo succeeded his post following the ruleof succession. Jaucianserved Daraga town for 24 years.

For the past three years, three mayors haave so far assumed the town’s top post and changed the political atmosphere here after the killing of Ako Bicol Rep.rRodelBatocabe who, last October 2018 decided to file his certificate of candidacy as mayor for Daraga town.