By I. Inojales, Helen Castaño |12:47 PM September 08, 2025
DAUIS, BOHOL — The municipality of Dauis was thrown into a leadership row on Monday, September 8, 2025, as both Mayor Marietta Tocmo-Sumaylo and Vice Mayor Marie Nickie Bolos-Delgado reported to their respective offices, each claiming authority as the town’s chief executive.
Sumaylo asserted she remains the duly elected mayor, stressing that she has not received any official order from the Office of the Ombudsman or the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) directing her to step down.
“We are waiting for the order from the Ombudsman for implementation. Since Friday, we’ve been waiting, but there is no order addressed to Miriam Sumaylo to vacate the post,” she said.
She added that she has written to the DILG regional director to clarify the matter, insisting that no dismissal order has been formally served to her.
She has since filed a motion for reconsideration before the Ombudsman, which remains pending.
Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Bolos-Delgado, who took her oath last Friday as the new mayor of Dauis, also reported to work at the Legislative Building, where a new signage identifying her office as the “Office of the Mayor” has been installed.
Delgado, who said she would have preferred to remain as vice mayor to continue practicing her profession as a lawyer, emphasized that her assumption of office was not about personal ambition.
“This is not about me, this is not about what I want, and this is not about Mayor Miriam (Sumaylo). This is about the rule of law and respecting government institutions. It is about ensuring that the delivery of basic services is not delayed and that municipal transactions are not hampered,” Delgado said.
She added that while Sumaylo may still explore legal remedies, the local government must in the meantime follow the directives of the Ombudsman and the DILG.
The dispute has caused confusion among Dauis residents and municipal employees, as both officials continue to assert their mandate to serve as mayor.
The Ombudsman earlier ordered Sumaylo’s dismissal after finding her guilty of grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty for issuing a business permit to a cockpit arena in June 2022 despite the expiration of its franchise. The Ombudsman ruled that her actions violated the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials (RA 6713) and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019).
