The camp of Escalante City, Negros Occidental Mayor Melecio Yap Jr., yesterday denied reports that he has been suspended from office and called the allegations “pure and simple politics.”

In a press briefing in Bacolod City, administration councilor Santiago Maravillas pointed to the camp of Vice Mayor Santiago Barcelona Jr., as behind the “suspension” reports.

Requests for an interview through Barcelona’s cellphone were not answered and his mobile phone was out of network coverage yesterday.

Maravillas said it was difficult to tag Barcelona and his camp as behind the spread of the allegations, but added that there are only two political groups in Escalante – that of the Vice Mayor and Yap’s.

Maravillas said the reports came from a block-time radio program but he did not specify the station, aside from staying that it did not come from major media outlets.

In a written statement, Maravillas said the reported suspension is “unkind and unfair” to Yap “whose administration is gaining the popular support of the people…”

He also said that peace and order in Escalante is much better now than during Barcelona’s administration.

He said that despite the perception that Escalante is filled with violence with reports of killings, people who visit the city will see that the reverse is true.

To prove that they are not playing politics in governing the city, Maravillas said they have approved and are working on projects that have been planned during Barcelona’s administration. He cited the finalization of plans for public transport terminal.

Maravillas also said that Yap is considering to make Escalante as “gun less city” to remove the perception that armed goons roam there.*PP

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