ILOILO CITY – Vice Mayor Jesry Palmares of Passi City, Iloilo has resigned after he was appointed undersecretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.
Palmares briefly presided over the inaugural session of the Passi City Council Monday, July 11, prior to formally stepping down from his elected post.
“I may not be able to be with you this time. But Passi City will have the ear of the President, the Speaker of the House, and even the Senate President,” said Palmares in his farewell speech.
In a phone interview, Palmares said he accepted the post as it would be a pleasure to serve not only Marcos but also the country.
Palmares will handle the DAR Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Office (FASPO).
Right after stepping down as vice mayor, Palmares met key officials of DAR Western Visayas, including Regional Director Sheila Enciso as well as Assistant Regional Directors Gideon Umadhay Jr. and Lucrecia Taberna.
Aside from DAR, Palmares was also appointed to the Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) and the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) by then President now Pampanga Rep. Gloria M. Arroyo.