New councilor joins town council after ousting

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Councilor Kent Magnabe will attend his inaugural session with the municipal council of La Castellana, Negros Occidental on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, after swearing in on Monday.

Magnabe was sworn in by Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on March 18, witnessed by La Castellana Mayor Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan and family.

He fills the seat vacated by Councilor Donato “Natnat” Dumaguit, who was removed after accumulating unexplained absences from both regular and special sessions.

Leonardo Bacquian, chairman of the Sangguniang Bayan Committee on Rules, shared with Daily Guardian on Tuesday that Dumaguit was absent from 14 regular sessions.

Dumaguit, embroiled in a P15-million PNP recruitment scandal last September, subsequently missed multiple council meetings, Bacquian reported.

Despite attempts to encourage Dumaguit’s participation, the council followed legal procedures and consulted extensively before his expulsion, citing the Local Government Code’s provisions on absenteeism.

“We had to act, as inaction on our part could lead to charges of dereliction of duty,” Bacquian stated, noting that the council also sought advice from the Provincial Legal Office.

The council, recognizing the urgency of public service, declared the position vacant, allowing Mayor Nicor-Mangilimutan to appoint a replacement from their political party, the United Negros Alliance (UNegA).

Magnabe, who narrowly missed being elected in the 2022 local elections, was chosen for the role and is now poised to participate in the council’s weekly Wednesday sessions.

Regarding Dumaguit’s response, Bacquian said, “He is free to challenge our decision in court. We stand by our actions and have fulfilled our responsibilities to him.”