Lt. Col. Geral Licyayo, deputy provincial director for operations, talks to former Mayor Antonio Prospero Esquivel who wanted to assume the mayorship. Photo by Armand M. Galang
JAEN, Nueva Ecija – Former Mayor Antonio Prospero Esquivel who was proclaimed by Judge Angelo Perez of the Regional Trial Court Branch 87 as winner in the 2019 mayoralty elections stays at a room at the ground level of municipal hall as Mayor Sylvia Austria continues to discharge functions at the second level as of press time.
Esquivel, accompanied by his counsel and sheriff Jorge Battung arrived at the town hall about 10 a.m. Thursday with the court order which also ordered Austria to vacate the post.
Austria who is serving her second term was proclaimed winner by the Commission on Elections in the last elections. Esquivel protested the poll result.
Austria’s son, town councilor Sylvester Austria expressed surprise, saying that they have not received any copy of the court decision.
Municipal employees said services have been disrupted Friday due to the restive situation at the town hall where the gates were closed.
In his order on Election Case No. 36-19, Perez declared Austria’s May 13, 2019 proclamation as null and void. Per Dec. 7, 2020, the court said Esquivel won by majority vote having garnered 18,737.
There was no mention of Austria’s total votes in that dispositive portion that was posted at the hall’s bulletin board though.
Lt. Col. Gerald Licyayo, deputy provincial director for operations, said their teams that include a civil disturbance unit and operatives from the elite provincial mobile field company were to maintain peace and order.
Major Baltazar Corpuz, town police chief, told Esquivel he has elevated all documents brought by the sheriff to the PNP legal office.
Esquivel insisted only a temporary restraining order can stop him from assuming post.
