BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla has given Urdaneta City Mayor Julio Parayno III and Vice Mayor Jimmy Parayno ten days to step down in compliance with their suspension order, which was issued last month.
During a press briefing in Baguio on Wednesday, Remulla addressed the situation, stating, “I give them 10 days [from Wednesday].” He was in the city to meet with local officials and barangay leaders from Baguio and Benguet in preparation for the midterm elections on May 12.
The suspension, ordered by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Jan. 3, found the Paraynos guilty of grave misconduct and abuse of authority for their removal of the Liga ng mga Barangay president from the city council in 2022.
Despite the ruling, the officials have refused to vacate their posts, prompting the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to issue a final ultimatum.
Mayor Parayno claimed he was not properly notified, as the order was served on Jan. 7 while he was on an official leave of absence. He further argued that implementing the suspension during the election period violates regulations.
Since no city employee was willing to receive the order on his behalf, the DILG posted the suspension notice on the office doors of both the mayor and vice mayor.
On Feb. 4, Parayno shared a Commission on Elections (Comelec) letter on social media, stating that Comelec had not received a request for approval from Malacañang regarding the suspension.
According to Comelec rules, “No public official shall, except upon prior written approval of the Commission, suspend any elective provincial, city, municipal, or barangay officer…from Jan. 12, 2025, to June 11, 2025.”
Parayno emphasized that “it is not the decision of the suspension itself that is prohibited, but rather the implementation of it without prior approval of the commission.”
While the Office of the President considers the ruling final and executory, the mayor said they are preparing to appeal the decision before the Court of Appeals.
At a press conference in Camp John Hay, Remulla reiterated his stance against “malfeasance”, stating that he has always upheld accountability, both as Cavite governor and now as DILG secretary under President Marcos.
He also discussed measures to combat vote-buying and election-related violations, as well as the government’s crackdown on private armed groups and militias in Abra province, Ormoc City, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, where election-related violence remains a concern.
