Comelec stops governor from assuming post

BAGUIO CITY—The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has stopped elected Kathy Jyll Mayaen-Luis from taking over the post of governor of Mountain Province after her father died, allowing the reelected vice governor, Bonifacio Lacwasan Jr., to assume the role.

In an injunction order issued on June 28, the Comelec’s First Division said all petitions objecting to Luis’ candidacy should be resolved first before she could become governor. She took her oath of office as elected governor on June 28.

Luis’ proclamation of winner in the May 9 gubernatorial race was questioned by some lawyers, who said her certificate of candidacy as substitute for her late father, Gov. Leonard Mayaen, had violated election rules. The elder Mayaen ran as an independent and uncontested candidate but died before the polls.

The late governor, whose name was in the ballot, garnered votes that were counted by the Mountain Province provincial board of canvassers in favor of his daughter.

In a news conference here in April, Comelec Chair Andres Bautista said election laws did not entitle an independent candidate to a substitute in case he or she withdraws or dies before an election.

A special election may be scheduled instead for the vacant post, Bautista said.

New leaders in central and northern Luzon took their oaths of office in separate venues on Thursday.

Of 130 mayors in Central Luzon’s seven provinces, 62 were either serving their second terms (34) or were on their third terms (28). Newly elected mayors totaled 55 while those who made a comeback for the same post numbered 13. Nueva Ecija has the most newly-elected mayors at 17.

The political landscape in the region continued to be dominated by men as only 36 women were elected into office. Most of the women replaced their husbands, fathers or brothers.

Among the governors, Susan Yap of Tarlac and Czarina Umali are new to their posts. Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda and Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado are on their third terms. Aurora Gov. Gerardo Noveras and Bataan Gov. Albert Garcia are on their second terms.

Amor Deloso is back as Zambales governor after losing to Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. in two elections.

In Pangasinan, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), and 21 priests, celebrated Mass, before the province’s new leaders, led by Gov. Amado Espino III, took their oaths on Thursday at the capital, Lingayen town.

In Abra, Gov. Jocelyn Valera-Bernos took over the provincial capitol from outgoing Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin.

In Ifugao, reelected Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr., took his oath of office wearing the province’s traditional G-string.

The new mayor of Buguias town in Benguet province was injured on Wednesday, a day before he was to assume office, when his vehicle fell into a garden terrace some 20 meters below the Halsema Highway in Atok town.

Mayor Ruben Tinda-an and his driver, Roderick Segundo Loncio, were taken to the Notre Dame Hospital in Baguio City for treatment. Kimberlie Quitasol and Johanne Margarette Macob, Inquirer Northern Luzon; and Tonette Orejas and Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Inquirer Central Luzon