Albay Gov Noel Rosal unseated
LEGAZPI CITY, Albay: The die is cast.
Albay Gov. Noel Rosal was unseated from his post on Tuesday after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) enforced the writ of execution issued by the Commission on Elections on Thursday afternoon.
Lawyer Arnaldo Escober Jr., DILG Bicol regional director, tried to enter the provincial capitol building but he was barred from doing so by supporters of the embattled Rosal.
The supporters formed a human barricade at the main building of the provincial capitol to prevent the entry of DILG officials.
Rosal was in Manila when the officials led by Escober served the writ of execution.
The DILG officials were booed by Rosal’s supporters while reading the writ of execution.
Vice Gov. Edcel Greco Lagman took his oath at the office of Cedric Daep, chief of Albay Public Safety Emergency Management Office, at the capitol annex before the presence of lawyer Ian Macasinag, former provincial legal officer of Albay under then-governor Al Francis Bichara.
Lagman’s post was taken over by senior board member Glenda Ong-Bongao.
Bongao also took her oath shortly after Lagman did.
After he was sworn in, Lagman issued a statement calling for unity, saying he assumed the post of governor when it was declared vacant by the Comelec.
He said he will be the governor of all Albayanos regardless of political differences.
“It is indeed providential that I have succeeded by operation of law to be governor of Albay after the Comelec en banc disqualified with finality Gov. Noel Rosal in a case of which I was not a party,” Lagman added.
“I am just an incidental beneficiary of that case. However, it should be underscored that I won as Vice Governor with an overwhelming 463,879 votes. The voters were aware that under the law I could succeed as governor. Verily, my mandate included that possibility, which is now a reality. As your new governor, I pledge to the people of Albay the following steadfast commitments,” according to him.
Lagman said he will look after the interest and welfare of Albay and the Albayanos by doing away with “partisan and transactional politics.”
He also said under his new leadership, the province will be supportive of and cooperative with the national administration’s agenda and policies particularly for speedy economic recovery, enhanced local government autonomy, pro-people socio and economic reforms, rational land use allocation, utilization, development and management, achievement of food security, essential electoral reforms and genuine people empowerment.
“Education is a top priority. We will expand provincial scholarship programs to make it more inclusive and accessible to the underprivileged and marginalized,” Lagman added.
He vowed that adequate power supply will be assured and power rates will be rationalized.
Measures that would reinforce energy efficiency and conservation will also be put in place, Lagman said.
“Boosting the local tourism industry and developing existing and new tourist destinations will be given preferential attention. The new leadership will spur growth opportunities by expanding markets extensively and allowing businesses and startups to flourish while protecting the environment. We will generate local and international investments and promote the province as an investment destination in the Philippines,” he added.
The religiosity of Albayanos will be respected even as participation in political discourse from all religious denominations will be protected, Lagman said.
The new administration, according to him, will encourage and promote collaboration.
“We aim to unite the government and the private sectors. We strive to be strengthened democratic institutions and consultative bodies so that no sector will be left behind. The new administration will endeavor to be a strong ally of the Albayano youth,” Lagman said.
“We recognize the local government’s responsibility to enable the youth to fulfill their vital role in nation-building by implementing youth development programs and projects, such as the search for youth ambassadors,” he added.
The Lagman brand of principled governance, accountability to the people, rejecting political vendettas and integrity in public service will be the hallmark of his administration, Lagman said.