By NITZ ARANCON EMBATTLED Mayor Oscar Moreno yesterday declared “normalcy” in city hall, saying the interior department’s letter on Tuesday night put an end to the confusion that crippled local government operations since last week. Later in the day, he scored another legal victory when the Court of Appeals (CA) issued a resolution that stated that the temporary restraining order (TRO) meant a status quo in favor of the embattled mayor. Moreno said the first thing he did yesterday was to issue a memorandum to inform manager’s of city hall’s banks about the letter of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) that recognized him as mayor. He told a news conference he had to do this quickly because of the delay in the release of the salaries of many city hall employees inconvenienced because of the five-day standoff. “The situation in city hall is back to normal,” he said. Moreno also called on city hall employees to work like professionals, and avoid partisan politics. “Let us all realize that we are here not to serve our political patrons  but rather to serve the people of Cagayan  de Oro. I call upon those loyal to Ian Acenas... do not do anything that would expose you to possible violation of the law. You could be found guilty of usurpation or you could be held administratively liable,” he said. But before the CA issued the resolution yesterday, Councilor Leon Gan said Acenas has continued serving as mayor, and has been signing clearances and  vouchers since Tuesday. Gan said Acenas has also been meeting with the department heads that he appointed, and has been attending to the needs of people who go to his office to ask for aid. He said he was unaware if Acenas signed checks as local chief executive. Meanwhile, the Cagayan de Oro de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) said it still recognized Moreno as the city’s leader especially after the interior department said so. “Gi-recognize na man siya sa DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government), so siya usab among giecognize,” said city police director Senior Supt. Faro Antonio Olaguera. Olaguera said Cocpo would continue to secure city hall on orders of DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero. “Dili pa kami mohawa dinhi until dunay bag-ong notice nga among madawat gikan sa DILG,” Olaguera said. Supt. Roque Magsalay, chief of Cocpo’s City Public Safety Company, said they deployed at least 60 ifficers to maintain the peace and order in and around city hall. Magsalay said that until they received an order to return to the “barracks,” the police company and the Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) would remain in city hall. (nitz arancon)