SAN JOSE, ANTIQUE—Antique Vice Gov. Rhodora Cadiao on Tuesday assumed the post of governor after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Commission on Elections (Comelec) formally removed Antique Gov. Exequiel Javier from office.
Cadiao took her oath as governor before Judge Nery Duremdes, executive judge of the San Jose, Antique Regional Trial Court, minutes after DILG and Comelec officials transmitted to her an order to assume office.
Anthony Nuyda, DILG Western Visayas director, and Tomas Valera, Comelec assistant regional director, served Javier the order ousting him. They were escorted by policemen. Javier was not in his office, though.
“His office appeared abandoned,” Nuyda said.
The order was instead posted on the door of Javier’s office. “The order is considered served,” said Nuyda.
Provincial board member Edgar Denosta was installed as vice governor, according to the rule of succession under the Local Government Code.
Javier, a Liberal Party ally when he ran in the 2013 elections, could not be reached for comment through his mobile phone.
His lawyer, Guillermo Alcantara, said he had no contact with his client but insisted that Javier continues to question his removal from office.
The Comelec ordered Javier’s removal from office on Jan. 12. It issued a writ of execution on Jan. 23.
The Comelec ruled that Javier violated the Omnibus Election Code when he ordered the suspension of Mayor Mary Joyce Roquero, of Valderrama town in Antique, during the 2013 election period.