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TALISAY CITY, Philippines - Talisay Vice Mayor Lani Abarquez will leave on Friday for Australia to prepare for her wedding to her Filipino-Australian fiancé Victor Alcoseba.
Abarquez distributed wedding invitations at the session hall on Tuesday, a week after she filed a three-month leave of absence starting January 5.
The wedding is set on March 8 in Melbourne. It will be a small gathering of immediate family members of the bride and groom.
Abarquez invited Councilor Allan Bucao, Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez and Representative Eduardo Gullas of Cebu's 1st district to her nuptials.
Abarquez said she hoped that her colleagues and the people of Talisay City would be happy for her.
Asked if she would give up her elected post to concentrate on starting her own family, Abarquez said she has not decided yet.
Her leave ends on March 15.
If she resigns, Bucao, who is with the opposition bloc like Abarquez, will take over as vice mayor.
To fill the vacancy in the City Council, the political party of the councilor who caused the vacancy after he was elevated to a higher position, would recommend the replacement.
The recommendation will have to be approved by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.
Abarquez said Tuesday she wanted to resign last December after news of corruption inside the Talisay City Hall became rampant.
?During that time, my visa was pending approval. Back then, with the corruption charges, it was easy to decide to leave my position,? she said.
She lauded the city's effort in removing those involved in the controversy but she said it was not enough because the perpetrators were still there.
Bucao on Tuesday delivered his first privilege speech as acting vice mayor and presiding officer of the City Council during its first session for 2009.
He said allegations of corruption, crime and violence marred the image of Talisay in 2008.
Bucao said he hoped that 2009 would be a progressive year for Talisay.
?We are overtaken by Naga and Carcar cities in terms of development and governance, and these places have just been made into cities one or two years ago,? he said.
