Tabuk City, Kalinga - Following the declaration of withdrawal of support by three division heads of Tabuk City LGU, another official openly said he no longer believes in the leadership and management of Tabuk City Mayor Darwin Estrañero.
Estrañero is running for a second term as Mayor in Tabuk City and is facing several charges of alleged corruption and abuse of power before the Office of the Ombudsman filed by his Vice-Mayor Bernard Glenn Dao-as and some residents of the city.
William Owek is a Market Supervisor IV and was a former Dagupan Public Market Administrator of around 16 years. He has also attended numerous trainings and seminars related to market management and implemented several innovations and ordinances crafted by the Sanggunian.
In an interview with Guru Press Cordillera on May 2, 2022, he said that he doesn’t support the decisions of the Mayor regarding how the Dagupan Public Market is being run and the compromise of putting someone without knowledge and training in market management to run the market.
Owek said he has the same sentiments as the three division chiefs mentioned in their withdrawal of support regarding alleged questionable employment and re-assignment which affect the services of the City government.
The former market administrator was removed in October 2021 and was replaced by someone who is allied to the Mayor. He is now working at an office that is not in line with his expertise.
Owek was a market administrator since the term of former Mayor Rommel Diasen. He claimed he was removed from office due to the fact that Joyce Omengan, his relative, declared her candidacy to run for Mayor.
On the other hand, Owek said his removal was maneuvered through a petition of some market stall owners in Dagupan City who he alleged conspired for his removal. Although he was defended by other stall owners, he said the verdict of the Mayor is to remove him due to the petition.
The camp of Mayor Estrañero has been reached for comment on Owek’s withdrawal of support and their statements shall be published once available.
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