Dismissed Dauis Mayor Marietta “Miriam” Sumaylo stepped down from her post following a Tuesday meeting with Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) regional director Leocadio Trovela.
Sumaylo said she would respect the rule of law and acknowledge the new Dauis mayor, Atty. Nickie Bolos-Delgado.
“I will follow the rule of law for the sake of peace in Dauis,” Sumaylo said.
She added that she wants service delivery at the town hall to continue uninterrupted and respects Bolos-Delgado’s succession to the position.
Despite stepping down, Sumaylo’s motion for reconsideration filed with the Ombudsman remains pending as she awaits a decision.
Her resignation ended a standoff that saw two mayors claiming authority, with Bolos-Delgado operating from the legislative building when offices reopened Monday.
With Sumaylo’s departure, Bolos-Delgado can now occupy the mayor’s office.
Bolos-Delgado has repeatedly said she does not aspire to become mayor and was content serving as vice mayor, which allowed her to continue practicing her profession.
She told Dauis residents that while she respects the mandate voters gave both Sumaylo and herself, she must follow the rule of law after the DILG directed her to assume the mayor’s office.
The Ombudsman dismissed Sumaylo for alleged graft after she issued a business permit to a cockpit without a franchise.
Bolos-Delgado initially delayed assuming office to respect Sumaylo’s legal remedies.
Speaking to reporters Ardy Araneta-Batoy and Gloria Leodivica-Araneta, Bolos-Delgado said the DILG recognizes her as Dauis mayor.
Sumaylo initially refused to step down while awaiting implementation orders from the Ombudsman, but changed her position after meeting with Trovela.
On Monday, department heads found themselves in limbo, uncertain which official was the legitimate mayor.
They requested written confirmation from the DILG that Bolos-Delgado was the new mayor.
With the situation resolved, department heads will now report to the new mayor, ending the impasse.
DILG provincial director Johnjoan Mende explained that when the Ombudsman dismissed Sumaylo, no separate implementation order was needed as the decision was immediately executory.
Mende clarified that while the decision was immediately executory, the affected party retained legal remedies.
Once the DILG received the Ombudsman’s decision, the department issued an order for verification by the concerned party.
By operation of law, the decision was considered implemented upon receipt.
The DILG issued a memorandum directing Bolos-Delgado to assume the mayor’s office based on succession rules.
Mende said the Ombudsman’s dismissal stripped Sumaylo of mayoral authority, even while pursuing legal remedies.