VM Bal-o takes oath as acting Tabuk City Mayor

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Vice Mayor Dick Bal-o assumes Tabuk City mayoral seat as Mayor Darwin Estrañero relinquished the post to heed a six-month suspension imposed by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Bal-o’s oath of office was administered on Friday, Sept. 29, by the Department of Interior and Local Government – Kalinga Provincial Director Anthony Manolo I. Ballug, as witnessed by City Local Government Operations Officer, among other officials and employees.

Estrañero was suspended in connection with a series of administrative complaints filed against him and Bids and Awards Committee officials and members in 2020 by then Vice Mayor Bernard Glenn Dao-as and other complainants for overpriced procurement of medical supplies.

The mayor, representing the city government of Tabuk, entered into a contract with suppliers and purchased over P2 million overpriced supplies, to include the infamous thermal scanners, personal protective equipment (PPEs), among others.

Overprice percentage of those procured range from 135 percent to 609 percent, such that the Ombudsman found probable cause to charge Estrañero for gross overpricing of medical supplies and devices before the Sandiganbayan.

Meanwhile, cases against BAC officials and members namely, Arnold Tenedero, Arthur Kub-ao Sr., Juanito Amangan Jr., Elmer Agliam, Edgar Sannadan, and Mary Grace Pocais, including City Health Officer Henrietta Bagayao, were dismissed.

By operation of law, Bal-o now occupies the mayoral post. He is yet to release his statement regarding the matter.

Meanwhile, the vice mayor position will be filled in by Lucretina Sarol, the highest-ranking Sanggunian member in the city, as provided by the Local Government Code.

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