A SPECIAL election should be conducted in Barangay Datu Abdul in Panabo City after the killing of the newly elected village chair on Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 7, the day before he was about to take his oath.
During the AFP-PNP press briefing on Wednesday, Alex Roldan, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region XI regional director, said succession does not apply in the case since the victim has never assumed the barangay chairmanship position.
“Wala pa naka assume dili epektibo ang rule of succession. Katong napildi pildi gyud siya technically,” he said.
Engr. Paul Albert Saquian was killed when his car was peppered with bullets by motorcycle-riding gunmen after leaving his home.
According to the director, the first Kagawad or village councilor or the next highest voter who ran to sit as chairman cannot be seated in the said position because the victim was killed before taking an oath. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will conduct and set the schedule for the special election.
“Mamahimong mag appoint ang mayor sa Panabo as officer in charge apan dili kani mag dugay kay kini unconstitutional,” the director said.
A P500,000 reward has been offered by Congressman Alan Dujali to those who can pinpoint the perpetrators.
