ANGELES CITY – Two officials are now simultaneously acting as barangay chairmen in Balibago, the most prosperous village in this city and considered its entertainment district.
This developed after Balibago chair Captain Carmelo “Tarzan” F. Lazatin filed a leave of absence on Tuesday for undisclosed medical reasons after failing to show up and preside over the barangay council’s regular and special sessions.
First councilman Rodelio “Tony” H. Mamac said he is the duly authorized acting chairman of Balibago based on Barangay Resolution No. 9 S-2018, enacted on September 10 declaring a temporary vacancy in the office of the barangay chairman due to the “physical sickness” of the barangay chair and directing the highest ranking sangguniang barangay member to automatically exercise the power and perform the duties and functions of the barangay captain.
On the other hand, second councilman Alfonso “Alan” B. Bonifacio has been appointed by Lazatin on Tuesday as acting chairman before filing his leave of absence.
On Tuesday morning, Lazatin showed himself at the barangay hall after reportedly being physically absent from the barangay hall for 29 consecutive days, from August 13 to September 10.
Lazatin informed other village officials and employees that he filed a leave and appointed Bonifacio as acting village chief from September 14 to 16.
But Mamac said on Wednesday Bonifacio is already functioning as village chief by signing clearances and affixing his name as acting barangay chair.
Mamac said Lazatin’s appointment of Bonifacio as acting barangay chair is no longer valid since the barangay council already passed a resolution a day earlier declaring a temporary vacancy in the Office of the Punong Barangay.
It was pointed out in the village resolution that pursuant to section 46 of the Local Government Code (LGC) that “a) When the …punong barangay is temporarily incapacitated to perform his duties for physical or legal reasons such as, but not limited to leave of absence, travel abroad, and suspension from office, …the highest ranking sangguniang barangay member shall automatically exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the local chief executive concerned…. “
Mamac said Lazatin did not travel within the country as provided by the LGC during his absences but was actually unable to perform his duties because he was sick.
Sources at the Mother Teresa of Calcutta Medical Center in the City of San Fernando confirmed that Lazatin is undergoing regular dialysis treatment in the hospital.
For his part, Bonifacio said Mamac cannot arrogate unto himself the power to appoint himself as barangay chairman.
He has no authority to appoint himself as such, he reiterated. Bonifacio said only the duly elected barangay chairman can make an appointment to whoever he wants to appoint from the council.
Five council members who are identified with Mamac signed the resolution – Councilmen Abel T. Reyes, Arnold Ibay, Leonardo C. Nicdao, Fernando A. Yambao and Joel C. Ocop.
