ILIGAN City ― Mayor Celso G. Regencia yesterday told residents here that “this is just a continuation of my sacrifices for the people here.”
The statement was made during the city’s weekly “Kapihan sa Iligan” hosted by City Councilor Petronilo Pardillo. Regencia said in a phone interview by Pardillo that he was “mobile” and was at Matnog at that moment.
The verdict, he said dismayed him very much and that such acts “were made in good faith” obviously referring to acting as city mayor while in detention.
To recall, Judge Arthur Abundiente of a Regional Trial Court here gave the decision that he could still do his duties as mayor even while detained.
Such a decision though was subsequently overturned by another judge ― Ali Ombra Bacaraman.
“I can still run in the coming elections as the decision which consisted of 62 pages did not include disqualification,” Regencia added.
There will be a ‘Motion for Reconsideration to be filed with the Sandiganbayan, he said but he is sure this will be denied too by the said body so he is sure this will go all the way to the Supreme Court, adding that his doing such (acting as mayor while in detention) as “there was a need to defend the resources of the city” what with the number of “ghost casuals” in city hall obviously referring to Vice Mayor Ruderic Marzo who was in the opposition.
The mayor said that he will fight this out in accordance with the law and this case is “only four years old” but why this decision now when a case filed against the opposition which is already seven years old has no decision yet.
“I am not corrupt,” Regencia said.
To recall, the mayor was detained at Tipanoy jail facility in connection with the ambush of then-congressman Vicente Belmonte, Jr near the Laguindingan airport on Dec 11, 2014.
