JAEN, Nueva Ecija – Mayor Sylvia Austria of this town stepped down, complying with orders from the Regional Trial Court and the Department of Interior and Local Government Monday night.
In a video message posted at about 8 p.m., Austria said she wanted to keep peace and order in the municipality.
“Bilang pagtalima sa kautusan ng DILG at hukuman, ako po ay pansamantalang bababa sa aking puwesto bilang punong bayan ng Jaen,” she said. “Ito po ay upang mapanatili ang katiwasayan at katahimikan ng ating bayan.“
Austria was halfway serving her second term after being proclaimed winner, having garnered 20,815 votes, by the municipal board of canvassers in the May 2019 elections, when RTC Branch 87 ordered her to vacate the mayorship in favor of her rival, former Mayor Prospero Antonio Esquivel on Dec. 16.
In its Dec. 7 decision on the poll protest, the RTC ruled that Esquivel won the elections with 18,737 votes, increased from 18,461 per counting machines.
Per court manual recount, Austria got over 14,000 votes.
Austria is contesting the court decision.
“Gagawin natin ang lahat ng legal na hakbang upang tunay na hustisya at boses ng taumbayan ng Jaen ay mangibabaw,” she said.
Austria succeeded her husband, the late Mayor Santiago Austria who finished three full terms. Thehusband also served as municipal councilor and vice mayor.
On Sunday, two successive explosions hit this town though police later explained they came from a single improvised explosive device.
