GENERAL SANTOS CITY – A losing mayoralty candidate in 2013 elections assumed the post as municipal mayor of Maitum, Sarangani four days before his term ends on June 30.
Flor Limpin, Department of Interior and Local Government provincial director, installed Tito Balazon on Monday after the local court came out with its ruling last Friday favoring the election protest the latter filed in 2013.
Balazon had earlier filed an election protest against the proclamation of his rival George Perret as the winner in the 2013 mayoralty polls.
Perrett died during an ambush in 2014 in which he was replaced by vice-mayor Pepito Catimbang.
In his protest, Balazon claimed that he was cheated in the election which was given credence by the court.
In a decision, Regional Trial Court Judge Oscar Noel nullified some 238 votes in a clustered precint in Barangay Tuanadatu, Maitum which were padded by the polling clerks in favor of Perrett.
Balazon, who was elected vice-mayor in the last election, will turn over the post to mayor-elect Bryan Reganit, an incumbent provincial board member.
Limpin said Balazon is entitled to claim his salary for four days that he served as town mayor. (Joseph Jubelag)