Political couple rules Pangasinan even in acting capacity

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – For the first time in the history of Pangasinan, a married couple is temporarily taking over the helm of the provincial government.

Pangasinan Vice Gov. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas and Sangguniang Panlalawigan presiding officer pro-tempore Tyrone Agabas took over as acting governor and vice governor, respectively, due to the absence of Gov. Amado Espino Jr. who is on a business trip in the United States.

Espino designated Marlyn  as OIC (officer-in-charge)-governor from Nov. 2 to 22. She, in turn, designated her husband, Tyrone, as OIC-vice governor for the same period.

Records show that this is the first time that a couple is holding the top two positions in the provincial government, even only in an acting capacity.

Under the law, Tyrone was designated acting vice governor being the senior board member and presiding officer pro-tempore at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. He garnered the highest number of votes in the last election of provincial board members.

On their first working day as OICs last Monday, the acting vice governor presided over the regular session of the provincial board at the Sison Auditorium, while the acting governor convened and presided over the meeting of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council to respond to tropical storm “Kabayan.”

According to the Local Government Code of 1991, the acting governor or acting mayor shall automatically exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the local chief executive concerned, except the power to appoint, suspend or dismiss employees.