By NORA SORINO and BONITA ERMAC of GSD Iligan Bureau ILIGAN City--A regional court has ordered Ruderic Marzo to cease and desist from performing the functions of mayor, and to return to his position as vice mayor of the city. The court also ordered Providencio Abragan Jr. to stop being acting vice mayor and go back to his being a councilor. In a 16-page temporary restraining order dated Dec. 4, Regional Trial Court Branch 4  Judge Arthur Abundiente commanded Marzo and Abragan to allow detained Mayor Celso Regencia to function as mayor and to receive his salary and other benefits. The court also ordered Ligaya Padilla of the Land Bank of the Philippines-Iligan Branch, and Francis Dongoan of the Development  Bank of the Philippines-Iligan Branch not to allow withdrawals of funds made by Marzo and Abragan other than which are in payment of statutory obligations. In order not to prejudice city hall employees as well as those who have valid claims against the city government that need immediate attention, and pending the elevation of the order to a higher court, Abundiente further directed them to honor the transactions of Regencia as the mayor until otherwise ordered by a competent authority. The court also ordered Emilio Rana, head of the Interior department’s office here, to cease and desist from recognizing Marzo and Abragan as acting mayor and vice mayor, respectively. Abundiente cited as examples the cases of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Romeo Jalosjos, and Sen. Antonio Trillanes who performed their functions, and disbursed public funds while in detention. “They were able  to perform their functions creditably. And these accused, are in the same category as public servants with Regencia. They are elected  public officials,” the judge stated. Regencia is detained in connection with the December 2014 ambush of Rep. Vicente Belmonte’s group near the Laguindingan airport in Misamis Oriental. Despite the lapse of a suspension order against Regencia, Marzo held on pointing out the mayor’s detention.