By Liza Agoot/PNA
BAGUIO CITY— An official of Mountain Province thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for issuing the appointment of a new Board Member, cutting the vacancy of the province’ legislative body to two from the previous three positions.
“The President issued the appointment of Christopher Kiat-ong on December 6, 2018,” said lawyer Thomas Kiwang, Mountain Province legal officer, in an interview on Friday (December 29).
Kiat-ong took his oath of office before Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan on Dec. 21. He is the son of the late incumbent Board Member Alfonso Kiat-ong who passed away while serving his third term as Sangguniang Panlalawigan member on April 25, 2018 at the age of 87.
Mountain Province experienced three vacancies since the older Kiat-ong’s death. Initially, due to the death of then incumbent Governor Leonard Mayaen on March 31, 2016 who was running unopposed for the same position on his third term.
Following the election, the Comelec issued an injunction restraining the daughter of the late governor Mayaen from assuming his father’s post and put in place elected vice governor Bonifacio Lacwasan to the post. First Board Member Francis succeeded the higher office as acting vice governor, leaving his post in the legislative body vacant.
Another Board Member Romeo Pagedped was dismissed from service by virtue of an order by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2017.
Pagedped’s case is still pending before the Court of Appeals.
Kiwang said that under the Office of the Ombudsman’s rules of procedures, if the Court of Appeals will exonerate him, he will be reinstated and considered to have been preventively suspended and whatever lost credits and even seniority rights, as well as leave credits, all benefits restored,” which decision is still being awaited.
He filed his candidacy for Board Member.
Kiwang said the younger Kiat-ong applied for the vacant position left by his father and since the late Kiat-ong belong to the Liberal Party (LP), there was a nomination from LP and he was appointed by the President on Dec. 6.
“At least he will be serving until June 30,” Kiwang said.
While there were three vacancies in the Board, the legislative body was still able to perform its mandate of passing ordinances and resolutions.
Kiwang said there was supposed to be 11 regular members of the board, thus the quorum in acting on measures require only six. The three vacancies left the body with eight members.
With President Duterte’s order which was received by the provincial government on December 20, the younger Kiat-ong took his oath.
Based on information from Mountain Province, Kiat-ong will start his public service on January 2019 in time for the first session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), where the Local Chief Executive will be delivering his 2019 State of the Province Address.
He will serve the unexpired term of his father.
