ILOILO CITY—Vice Gov. Rhodora Cadiao is now Antique’s new governor, after Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Director Anthony Nuyda served on Tuesday morning the writ of execution to Gov. Exequiel B. Javier, who was no longer around in his office when the DILG official arrived.
Cadiao was sworn into office by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Nerry Duremdes, after the DILG ordered her to assume the post vacated by Javier.
Javier was served by the DILG with the writ of execution issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc based on the disqualification petition filed by Raymundo T. Roquero, husband of Valderrama Mayor Mary Joyce Roquero, who was placed under preventive suspension by Javier on January 23, 2013, despite the election ban, which ran from January 13 to June 12, 2013, that was already in effect then. Javier also was not given approval by the Comelec to suspend the mayor.
Roquero, together with lawyer Cornelio Aldon, filed the disqualification case in March 2013.
Nuyda, accompanied by a Comelec official, went up the New Capitol Building to serve the writ of execution to Javier, but the latter was no longer in the office to receive it personally.
The DILG director said they had to post the writ of execution on the door of the office of Javier and recognized Cadiao as his successor.
Nuyda described the situation to be peaceful with the supporters of Javier no longer protesting.
Cadiao, in an interview after she was recognized by the DILG, said she was happy that commotion and chaos are now over in Antique.
She added that, finally, there is change in the province.
“It’s now time to go back to work,” Cadiao told the chiefs of offices and employees of the provincial government, whom she vowed to work for their third tranche salary standardization and representation allowance of chiefs of offices and reinstatement of employees who were unceremoniously removed by Javier.
She also said that, as the new governor, she will put priorities on health, education and tourism.
Meanwhile, Board Member Edgar Denosta, who has also been ordered by the DILG to assume the post left vacant by Cadiao, was scheduled to take oath later in the day. He said in an interview that he will do his best to live up to the expectations of Antiqueños as a good presiding officer and discharge his other duties well.
He called on other board members to set aside politics and serve the province with utmost sincerity.
Meanwhile, Antique Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Lazaro Petinglay said he is grateful that there had been peaceful transition of the leadership in Antique.
Petinglay said he is glad both parties respected the rule of law and that the new governor had been a longtime proponent of welfare programs.
PNA