Urdaneta dads warned on refusal to assume mayor, vice mayor posts

DILG Dir. Jonathan Paul Leusen Jr. (Liwayway Yparraguirre)

URDANETA CITY, Pangasinan — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has warned two Urdaneta City councilors that they could face charges for dereliction of duty should they refuse to assume the mayoralty and vice mayoralty posts.

The situation comes following the suspension of the city’s incumbent officials.

The DILG told Urdaneta City councilors Franco del Prado and Warren Andrada that they could face charges for dereliction of duty if they refused to assume these posts.

DILG Ilocos Region Director Jonathan Paul Leusen Jr. personally served the order Tuesday, directing Del Prado and Andrada to step in as acting mayor and vice mayor.

This development follows the suspension of Mayor Julio Parayno III and Vice Mayor Jimmy Parayno III on Jan. 7, 2025.

Both Paraynos were ordered suspended for 12 months for alleged grave misconduct and abuse of authority.

The suspension order was based on the case filed against them by Urdaneta City Liga ng mga Barangay President Michael Brian Perez in October 2022.

Leusen emphasized that the suspension of the two officials would remain in force until the penalty imposed upon them is duly completed or served.

“And we are trying to reach out to them (Del Prado and Andrada) to assume their posts as acting mayor and acting vice mayor. Unfortunately, we were not able to meet them,” the DILG official said in an interview.

“We hope that they will see that they are duty-bound to assume the positions following the suspension order,” he said.

Leusen said they also coordinated with the department heads regarding the advisory.