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 comply with their suspension order, which was issued last month.
Speaking at a press briefing in Baguio on Wednesday, Remulla confirmed the deadline, saying, “I give them 10 days [from Wednesday].” He was in the city to meet with officials and barangay leaders from Baguio and Benguet ahead of the midterm elections on May 12.
The suspension order, issued by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Jan. 3, found the Paraynos guilty of grave misconduct and abuse of authority over their removal of the Liga ng mga Barangay president from the city council in 2022.
However, the two officials have refused to vacate their positions, prompting the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to issue a final ultimatum last week.
Mayor Parayno argued that he was not properly served the suspension order on Jan. 7, as he was on an official leave of absence at the time. He also claimed that the suspension should not take effect during the election period.
With no staff members willing to accept the order on his behalf, the DILG instead posted the notice on the doors of both the mayor’s and vice mayor’s offices.
On Feb. 4, Mayor Parayno posted a letter from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on social media, stating that Comelec had not received a request for approval from Malacañang regarding the suspension.
According to Comelec regulations, “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 clarified 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.”
Although the Office of the President has declared the ruling final and executory, Parayno said they would appeal the decision before the Court of Appeals.
During a separate press conference at Camp John Hay, Remulla emphasized his firm stance against “malfeasance”, a principle he upheld as Cavite governor before being appointed DILG chief by President Marcos.
He also discussed government efforts to combat vote-buying and election-related offenses, as well as ongoing crackdowns on private armed groups and militias in high-risk areas, including Abra province, Ormoc City, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
