Reinstated Mayor Sylvia Austria, escorted by acting Nueva Ecija police director Col. Jaime Santos, gets warm welcome from municipal employees and supporters. Photo by Armand Galang
JAEN, Nueva Ecija – It’s finally over.
The Department of Interior and Local Government in Central Luzon reinstated Mayor Sylvia Austria to the town hall here late Monday afternoon on the strength of a 60-day status quo ante order (SQAO).
On top of the SQAO issued by the Commission on Elections Second Division, the said office issued a preliminary injunction which empowers Austria to stay in office over the said period.
At the municipal police station shortly before 5 p.m., DILG-3 assistant regional director Jay Timbreza and counsel Atty. Jackie Paulino handed to Austria the agency’s recognition of her as town mayor based on the SQAO “to prevent political impasse in the municipality and ensure that delivery of basic services to the people remains unhampered.“
The document was signed by DILG officer-in-charge Undersecretary Bernardo Florece.
Acting Nueva Ecija police director Col. Jaime Santos said Mayor Antonio Prospero Esquivel left the municipal hall at about 6:33 p.m.
Santos accompanied Austria in reporting to office Tuesday, March 9.
Esquivel was installed on Dec. 22, 2020 after the Regional Trial Court Branch 87 ruled in favor of his protest of Austria’s victory in the 2019 race.
Austria, however, brought the case to Comelec which subsequently issued the SQAO on Jan. 12, directing Esquivel to peacefully turn over the mayorship to Austria.
In the latest order, the Comelec division presided by Comm. Socorro Inting said it found merit on Austria’s petition after seeing “great irreparable injury” if the RTC orders were not stopped until the issue is resolved.
“The implementation during the pendency of the of the instant case of the assailed Notice of Finality, Certificate of Finality, Order of Execution, and Writ of Execution, all issued (by RTC Branch 87) on December 16, 2020, the same day private respondent (Esquivel) filed a Motion for Execution, would work injustice to the petitioner (Austria),” the new order signed by Inting and Senior Member Antonio Kho, Jr. said.
Such implementation of RTC orders, the Comelec added, tend to render whatever its resolution in Austria’s petition “ineffectual.”
On her first day, Austria met with heads of offices and vowed to continue her infrastructure and social programs, including pensions for senior citizens.
“Salamat po sa inyong mga pagdarasal, sa inyong suporta, sa inyo pong mga pagtulong at paniniwala sa akin. Ngayon po ay muli kong ibabalik ang nawala ninyong kalayaan,” she said.
