Pagdanganan vows to retake capitol

MALOLOS CITY , Philippines  – Former Bulacan governor Roberto Pagdanganan vowed to retake the provincial capitol tomorrow, moments after he took his oath of office in front of his cheering followers on Friday night.

As this developed, unseated governor Joselito Mendoza also vowed not to give way to Pagdanganan who secured a writ of execution from the Commission on Elections on Friday afternoon.

Bulaqueños on the other hand expressed apprehension on possible tense and explosive situation at the capitol tomorrow despite assurance from Pagda­nganan and Mendoza that they will not initiate hostile and violent moves.

“Sa Lunes na po ako uupo sa kapitolyo,” Pagdanganan told hundreds of his cheering supporters who patiently waited for him at the capitol grounds from morning until evening on Friday.

He added, “Alam kong pagod at gutom na kayo dahil maghapon kayong naghihintay at ako’y nagpapasalamat sa inyong lahat. Pero gabi na, sa Lunes na lang po tayo magkita-kita para buksan sa mga Bulaqueño ang Kapitolyo.”

By Monday, Pagdanganan vowed to improve the health care program of Bulacan, and remove barricades established by the camp of Mendoza around the provincial capitol building where the latter has been staying since Thursday night along with department heads and select employees of the provincial government.

“Unang-una nating gagawin pag naupo tayo sa Lunes ay ibalik sa pagiging district hospital ang Calumpit Maternity Hospital para kahit bata at matanda ay maaring gamutin,” he said as his first order once he retake the capitol.

Pagdanganan’s pronouncements came moments after he took his oath of office for the second time in a month before his legal counsel Joey Cruz, and hours after he secured a copy of the writ of execution from the Comelec on Friday.

He even joked, “Dati ay 12 years akong nanungkulan at apat na beses lang nag-take oath of office, pero ngayon, pangalawang oath of office ko na ito sa loob ng isang buwan, pero halos apat na buwan lang ako manunungkulan.”

This is due to the fact that when he assumes the gubernatorial post tomorrow, he will have only until June 30, as he is not seeking the same post because he has filed his certificate of candidacy for congressman of the first district of Bulacan in the May polls.

On Thursday, the Comelec issued a five page order directing the Election Contest Adjudication Division (ECAD) to issue a writ of execution directing the Provincial Election Supervisor of Bulacan, in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) provincial operations officer of Bulacan to implement the resolution issued by the Comelec Second Division on Dec. 1.

The Comelec affirmed on Feb. 8 its Second Division’s decision which ordered Mendoza to cease and desist from performing the functions of governor of the province of Bulacan and to vacate said office in favor of Pagdanganan.

For his part, unseated governor Mendoza vowed not to give way to Pagda­nganan and claimed that, that decision issued by Comelec was manipulated.