DUMAGUETE CITY — The provincial government of Negros Oriental closed the year 2017 with a positive outlook despite a “changing of the guards” in the last quarter following the suspension and dismissal of Governor Roel Degamo.
With just about two weeks before the end of the year, Edward Mark Macias and Mariant Escaño Villegas took their oaths as full-pledged governor and vice governor, respectively, following Degamo’s dismissal.
They were already serving in the same positions in an acting capacity prior to the dismissal of Degamo as ordered by the Ombudsman.
At the time of the dismissal, Degamo was serving a 90-day preventive suspension for another case filed against him, with the Sandiganbayan having ordered it as part of the processes.
Capitol spokesperson Adrian Sedillo reassured that there was no vacuum in the provincial government amidst the shift in the political scenario of the province.
Under the reign of Macias, operations and services have continued without interruption. Capitol employees’ benefits such as those for the Christmas season were released, and activities like the “Pasko Sa Capitolyo” and others scheduled for the holidays were carried out, according to Sedillo.
On December 22, the Department of Interior and Local Government formally served the dismissal order of the Ombudsman to Degamo, in relation to a complaint filed against him for the alleged misuse of the PHP10-million intelligence fund of the province.
Degamo was then already (and is still) serving a 90-day preventive suspension order of the anti-graft court, the Sandiganbayan, in relation to the ongoing graft and malversation cases against him.
The Sandiganbayan had granted the prosecution’s request to temporarily bar Degamo from performing his duties while the cases, which stemmed from the alleged misuse of the province’s calamity fund of some PHP480 million, were being heard.
On the same day the dismissal order was served in December, the DILG also issued the orders for Macias and Villegas to take oath as full-fledged governor and vice governor, respectively.
Sedillo said that despite the “changing of the guards”, normal operations continue within the provincial government.
Macias was elected as the vice governor of Negros Oriental and Villegas, as the first Board Member in the 2013 elections.
By virtue of the suspension order last October, both were elevated by one position in an acting capacity but were appointed full-pledged in mid-December because of Degamo’s dismissal.
Meanwhile, the ousted official announced that he is taking the necessary legal remedies, through his legal counsels, in relation to the dismissal order.
Degamo announced he would be securing a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Ombudsman’s dismissal order.
The governor-elect of Negros Oriental has accused the Ombudsman of getting personal in its decision on the complaints filed against him by his detractors.
This is the third time the Ombudsman opted to insist on its interpretation of the Aguinaldo doctrine, Degamo and his legal counsel, Richard Enojo pointed out.
Enojo said they are confident they could secure a TRO to prevent the implementation of the Ombudsman’s dismissal order.
Meanwhile, Sedillo said the provincial government is still collating reports from the different offices, units, and special programs, for the annual accomplishment report of the province.
He said the reports came in late in December with the change in leadership at the Capitol. (PNA)
