Cebu Port Authority commissioner Mike Acebedo Lopez has resigned from his post apparently so he can openly support his preferred national candidates in the 2022 elections.
Lopez sent his letter fo resignation to President Duterte on December 12, 2021, thanking him for the chance to serve the government. His resignation takes effect on January, 12, 2022.
“At exactly 12:12am today, 12/12/2021, I tendered my irrevocable resignation as Cebu Port Commissioner effective 1/12/2022. I thanked the President for the honor and privilege to serve the Filipino people under his leadership,” Lopez wrote on Facebook.
Lopez admitted in his letter that he could not stay politically neutral given his links to certain poll candidates. The Palace recently directed government appointees to practice “political neutrality” in the run-up to the 2022 elections.
“With the coming elections, I believe this is the right and most prudent thing to do, considering my personal connections with various national candidates; and how, as a result, it is nearly impossible for me to not be seen as engaging in partisan or political activities,” Lopez said in a letter to the President.
“Unfortunately, this is the only way I can faithfully comply with the Memorandum from the Executive Secretary dated 8 November 2021 reminding all appointive government officials to uphold the principle of political neutrality,” he added.
Lopez, former member of the National Youth Commission, is a known friend and supporter of vice presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio.
He was present when Mayor Sara met behind closed doors with former Senator Bongbong Marcos in Cebu last October. It was the meeting that triggered speculations about potential presidential team-up in the 2022 elections.
Lopez served as Cebu port commissioner in the past three years.
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