By Magtanggol C. Villar
NAMPICUAN, Nueva Ecija, June 14 (PNA) –Town mayor Ubaldino Lacurom, who is on a third term, has relinquished his position in favor of the incumbent vice-mayor, who is his daughter, due to his failing health.
The mayor’s resignation, dated June 6, shall take effect on July 1.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) provincial director Abraham Pascua, has opined that the takeover of the vice-mayor daughter is “legal by operation of law” upon the resignation of the father.
In his letter resignation addressed to Governor Aurelio M. Umali, Lacurom reasoned out that he was constrained to “slow down” in his physical activities due to a heart condition occasioned by a mild stroke in 2008 which required angioplasty in 2011.
Operated on at the Philippine Heart Center in 2011, Lacurom also has a pacemaker implantation procedure in 2012.
By this process, Pascua said that the post to be vacated by Vice Mayor Cora Lacurom shall be filled by the town’s first councilor, Councilor Marlou Gamboa.
She is understood to be serving the last remaining period of her father’s tenure.
In his communication to Umali, the mayor said, “I critically need to slow down the pace of physical and mental activities, but the paramount reason is I want to enjoy my pension as a retired regional trial court judge for a few more years while I live in this world.”
Speaking on behalf of her daughter, Mayor Lacurom vowed their “unflinching loyalty and support” to the governor and his wife, 3rd Congressional District Rep. Czarina Umali, who are also their party-mates in the Liberal Party. (PNA)