Yap sworn in as governor, Pano as vice gov
TACLOBAN CITY — DILG-8 Regional Director Maribel Sacendoncillo on Friday officially installed Vice Governor Christopher "Coco" Yap as acting governor of Southern Leyte, replacing Governor Damian Mercado, who was ordered dismissed from post by the Ombudsman last August.
With Yap rising to the gubernatorial post, the DILG-8 also installed Provincial Board Member Jessica Escaño Pano (1st district) as the acting vice governor.
Mercado—who elevated the dismissal case to the Court of Appeals, but said he would abide with the Ombudsman order pending the CA decision—personally asked the DILG8 for the immediate installation of Yap and Pano so that government services in the province would continue.
Myles Colasito, DILG-8 information officer, said: "It was a good move on the part of Mercado, while he maintained his concern to the people of Southern Leyte that the services continue despite order dismissing him from post."
Colasito said a compliance report on the installation of Yap and Pano to the two top posts in the Capitol was already submitted to the Ombudsman.
"That was a smooth transition of the leadership of the province of Southern Leyte. There was no reported political chaos between the supporters of Mercado and Yap. Mercado even accompanied Yap and other provincial officials” to the installation ceremony, said Colasito.
Mercado is now reportedly undergoing a medical procedure from an illness that his camp refused to reveal to the media.
The dismissal of Mercado stemmed from a case filed against him for alleged irregularities in the purchase of a P2.3-million worth of three second-hand vehicles, including his previously owned car.
Ombudsman ruled that Mercado was liable for grave misconduct in the anomalous procurement of vehicles in 2007 when he was still mayor of Maasin City, capital of Southern Leyte.