LUCENA CITY, Quezon, Philippines – With one mayor ordered to step down but remaining hold of City Hall and a vice-mayor installed as the acting local chief executive, this city now has two mayors.

Tension gripped city hall last Friday as supporters of Mayor Barbara Ruby Talaga kept her in office even as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) served the writ of execution for her removal.

Lawyer Allan Enriquez, Comelec’s provincial election officer, and City Election Officer Josepet Butingan were blocked by 1,000 supporters of Talaga from entering her office to serve the legal notice.

All entrance and exit gates were blocked and the mayor’s office padlocked, forcing Comelec officials to simply post the notice on the bulletin board.

City Administrator Ramon Talaga Jr. said the mayor will continue to execute her functions as mayor.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Rhoderick Alcala took his oath of office before Executive Judge Joselity Tamaray at the plenary hall of the City Council.

Alcala said he will be holding office as mayor at the City Hall Annex Building in Barangay Isabang while Talaga and her supporters continue to occupy the City Hall Building in Barangay Poblacion.

The Supreme Court (SC) is expected to resolve Talaga camp’s petition for certiorari and temporary restraining order (TRO) for the Comelec order removing her as mayor of the city.