Mayor attends aid event amid suspension

By Felipe V Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — The presence of suspended Mayor Receliste Escolin at Senator Imee Marcos’s financial aid distribution event in President Roxas, Capiz on Saturday, March 9, sparked criticism.

A concerned citizen expressed to The Daily Guardian that out of propriety, Escolin should have avoided the event and allowed Vice Mayor Braulio Godfrey Botoy Asis, the designated acting mayor, to represent the office.

Escolin contested this viewpoint, insisting on his participation since he had requested the assistance before his suspension.

Moreover, he clarified that the Department of Social Welfare and Development conducted the payout, not himself. He also mentioned his familial ties to Senator Marcos.

The Ombudsman’s office suspended Escolin after finding sufficient evidence of simple misconduct.

His three-month suspension began on February 13, 2024, and is set to conclude on May 13, 2024.