ILOILO CITY ? The province of Iloilo was plunged into a political crisis yesterday with two officials claiming to be governor after dismissed Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. refused to relinquish his post to Vice Gov. Roberto Armada.

Tupas refused to abide with the order of Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno implementing the dismissal order of the Office of the Ombudsman for Tupas after finding him guilty of two graft charges.

"I will not step down. I will not abide by an illegal order," Tupas said at the provincial capitol after Armada was sworn into office by DILG Undersecretary Wencelito Andanar at around 4:30 p.m. at the DILG regional office.

WV officials want due
process for Tupas
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The governors of Western Visayas are calling for due process for Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. who was expected to be served a dismissal order by the Department of Local Government yesterday.

Antique Gov. Sally Zaldivar Perez, chairman of the Regional Development Council of Western Visayas, said the governors want Tupas to be given due process, noting that the order for dismissal was issued so abruptly and he should be given a chance to defend himself. She said the governors of Western Visayas will issue a collective statement as soon as they get a copy of the order issued to Tupas.

As far as we are concerned, Gov. Tupas has been very cooperative at the RDC and has been implementing projects of the administration.

IN PULUPANDAN
Mayor moves to open road,
faces complaint for stealing
BY CARLA GOMEZ

A businessman and landowner has filed a complaint against Pulupandan Mayor Luis Mondia for allegedly "uprooting and stealing" the steel tollgate used as a "stop signal" at an hacienda road at Sitio Bagua, Zone 4-A in Pulupandan.

The complaint was filed before the Pulupandan police station by Ernesto Esteban, 53, who said the stop signal was taken Friday night.

Diosdado Masio, 42, a tricycle driver and caretaker of Esteban, also alleged in a separate blotter that the group of the mayor that included Pakley, Kiko, Berto and Third Mondia, took the steel tollgate without his knowledge and turned it over to the police station using the dumptruck of the municipal government.