Bayawan City Vice Mayor Ismael Martinez took his oath yesterday as the new city mayor, after the death of German Sarana Jr. at 11:42 a.m. Saturday, at the St Luke’s Medical Center, due to heart failure.

Sangguniang Panlungsod first councilor, Mark Fidencio Aurelia, is the new vice mayor. He and Martinez took their oaths of office before Regional Trial Court Judge Ananson Jayme, witnessed by Bayawan City Department of Interior and Local Government Operations Officer Jesus Robel Sastrillo, department heads and employees.

Former mayor Rene Gaudiel, who lost to Sarana in the 2013 elections, was appointed the new city administrator, effective October 1, to replace Victoriano Alabastro, who confirmed the death of Sarana, who had served for three terms until 2010 and returned to the political arena last year.

Sarana’s remains arrived 3 p.m. yesterday on board a Philippine Airlines flight from Manila, and was met at the airport by friends, supporters, and members of his family.

Meanwhile, provincial DILG head, Farrah Gentuya, said on the case of the vacancy at the SP caused by the succession of Aurelia as vice mayor that, under the Local Government Code, the political party of the person who caused the vacancy shall nominate a replacement.

In Aurelia’s case, he said, it is his political party that shall submit a nomination and the governor, in a ministerial capacity, will confirm it.

Aurelia belongs to the Nationalist People’s Coalition, headed at the provincial level by Rep. George Arnaiz (Neg. Or., 2nd District).*JG/JFP

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