BULA, Camarines Sur – While all newly elected public officials will still have to wait until June 30 before they can assume office, the local chief executive here has already been occupying his seat for the past two weeks now.

        Mayor Ben Decena of Lakas-CMD had regained his post four days prior to the just recently concluded mid-term polls by virtue of the writ of execution issued by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) 1st Division ordering incumbent Mayor Rolando Canet “to cease and desist from performing the functions of mayor and vacate and relinquish said position in favor of Decena.”

        The writ of execution was implemented through the Office of Acting Provincial Election Supervisor in cooperation with the PNP provincial office and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

        The order stemmed from the electoral protest filed by Decena at RTC 5th Judicial Region, Branch 33, Pili, Camarines Sur against Canet due to alleged cheating during the 2004 Elections.

        Handed down last February 16, 2007, the lower court ordered Canet to step down from his post in favor of Decena who was found to be the true mayor in the 2004 elections.

        Canet’s lawyer subsequently filed a motion for reconsideration but the same was denied by Comelec for the movant’s failure to perfect his appeal within five days from the receipt of the assailed decision sought to be appealed due to non-payment of the correct appeal fee.

        With the presence of some 20 members of the 505th Police Mobile Group backed up by the local police and the Bureau of Fire Protection, possible clash between supporters of the two camps was prevented. A man identified as Froilan Rosales y Abina of Libmanan town was collared as he tried to grab a handy cam from a LGU employee during Decena’s take over.

        When frisked, Rosales yielded a .9 mm pistol with serial No. M162826 reportedly owned by the PNP. In the ensuing investigation, the suspect admitted he was hired as bodyguard of a local candidate named Janice Cariaga who is identified with Decena.

        The night prior Decena’s assumption of office, one Cecilio Ballecer was gunned down by four unidentified assailants at Balaogan village. Police record showed that Ballecer was about to relieve himself by the road side when the perpetrators shot him five times. Canet told the Bicol Mail that the incident was politically motivated.

        In a related development, election assistant Calvin Organis of Comelec Bula on Tuesday told this reporter that the situation has gradually returned back to normal and that the tabulation of votes and proclamation of the winning candidates were “smooth sailing.”

        After the votes were tabulated, Decena emerged as victor with 11,732 votes as against Canet’s 11,359 or a difference of 379 votes.

        Decena’s running mate Gerry Raña also won the vice mayoralty race with 11,457 votes compared to 9,619 votes earned by Canet’s running mate Sergio Hombre.