The Department of Interior and Local Government in Oriental Negros and the Tanjay City Council were enjoined by the Provincial Legal Office to declare Mayor Baltazar Salma permanently incapacitated because of his health problems.

Provincial legal officer Erwin Vergara said he has observed that Tanjay City is in a "state of confusion" because of the mayor's state of health.

In late November last year, Salma suffered a stroke and is undergoing chemotherapy.

He wrote the Capitol on January 24, 2007 saying that he will be in Manila, but since then, had not notified the province of further developments.

It was later learned that when he returned to Tanjay on February 3, Mayor Salma was brought to the Holy Child Hospital.

Vice Mayor Lawrence Teves has taken over as acting mayor four days after a temporary vacancy as declared under Section 46 of the Local Government Code.

Vergara, however, said he believes that, in order that everybody can act accordingly, it would be better that the position be permanently vacated and for Teves to assume under the provisions of law.

He added that in the last two months, four city councilors from Salma's camp had alternately been designated as acting mayor.

Transactions and services have been hampered, especially because department heads still believe Salma is still able and capable of performing as mayor.

DILG provincial officer Jofralito Lorico and lawyers from the provincial legal office are set to visit Salma in the hospital to determine his state of health before any action could be taken.*JG

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