Tension remained high in Imus City as two officials insisted on their right to be the mayor.
More than 200 policemen have taken positions in front of the City Hall, where incumbent Mayor Emmanuel Maliksi holed himself in after the Supreme court reversed a lower court decision that declared him the rightful winner in 2011, ousting then mayor Homer Saquilayan.
Saquilayan, who bandied a writ of execution from the Commission on Elections and was sworn in by the governor of Cavite, insists on resuming his functions as mayor. His supporters have been massing in front of a church in the town plaza while supporters of Maliksi are holding their ground at City Hall.
Maliksi, a member of President Aquino鈥檚 Liberal Party, spent the night in his office, insisting that the court order was not yet final since he had filed a motion for reconsideration.
The president of the Cavite Mayors League, Jose Ricafrente, came to Maliksi鈥檚 defense and accused Gov. Juanito Victor Remulla of 鈥済rave abuse of power鈥� when he swore in Saquilayan and forcibly entered City Hall.
Ricafrente said Remulla, who leads the Partido Magdalo, had 鈥渟tarted the commotion鈥� when he forced his way into City Hall and swore in Saquilayan.
Imus City police chief Supt. Redrico Maranan, said by phone on Tuesday afternoon that the massive police presence was only meant for peacekeeping, should supporters from either camp clash.
The situation stemmed from an election protest initiated by Maliksi against Saquilayan, who was then the sitting mayor. In December 2011, the Imus regional trial court removed Saquilayan and installed Maliksi as the rightful winner. But the high court last week overturned the lower court鈥檚 decision and declared Saquilayan the mayor.
In a phone interview, Saquilayan said he was requesting President Aquino to intervene.
鈥淚鈥檓 asking (Aquino) to advice his partymate to obey the law,鈥澛漺hich the Supreme Court in its ruling said was 鈥渋mmediately executory.鈥�
鈥淲hen they asked me to step down, I did so even if I had also filed an MR (motion for reconsideration),鈥澛漵aid Saquilayan of the Nacionalista Party.
Maliksi could not be contacted by phone but his lawyer, Lualhati Cruz, insisted that the high court decision could be implemented only after the motion for reconsideration was finally resolved.
Resident Aida Gaerlan said the tension had affected residents living nearby. 鈥淭hey hold vigils with karaoke blaring throughout the night. We can鈥檛 sleep. This has been affecting us and we are not involved in their politics,鈥澛漵he said in a text message.
The standoff has also affected operations at the city hall, according to employees.
鈥淲e still come in for work but I鈥檓 just not sure if the policemen outside are allowing the taxpayers to come in,鈥澛漵aid an employee of the city鈥檚 budget office, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals from either camp.
Another employee said the tension rendered government operations 鈥渁bnormal.鈥�
An employee of the city鈥檚 personnel鈥檚 office said they were 鈥済etting confused regarding who our mayor really is. Both are issuing directives but we don鈥檛 know who to follow.鈥� She also said around 1,700 contractual and coterminous employees may lose their jobs should a new mayor be installed again.