Robredo sworn as Naga’s first female mayor

MANILA, Philippines —  Former vice president Leni Robredo yesterday turned a new page in her political career as she assumed the role of mayor of Naga City in Bicol.

In her inaugural speech, the vice president-turned-local chief executive outlined her priorities to make Naga “a happier, more livable and forward-looking city.”

“Over the past months, we have been working on a roadmap that concretizes our vision for a better quality of life for all Nagueños,” Robredo said. “More than reclaiming and strengthening our reputation as the center for good governance in the country, we want to make Naga more sustainable and livable.”

Robredo, who took her oath along with Vice Mayor Gabriel Bordado and other local elected officials, vowed to build a “thriving and inclusive economy” to uplift the life of every Naga resident, as well as create a “cleaner, greener and flood-resilient” city.

She said her first executive order will institutionalize a “zero-tolerance policy” toward corruption, to be followed by a mass regularization program for over 100 contractual employees.

In San Fernando City, Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan officiated the mass oathtaking of all elected officials of La Union, including Reps. Paolo Ortega and Dante Garcia, Gov. Mario Ortega and Vice Gov. Eric Sibuma.

Reelected Pangasinan Gov. Ramon Guico III began his second term with a promise to expand existing projects and introduce new initiatives focused on health, education and agriculture.

Apayao Gov. Elias Bulut Jr. urged newly elected leaders to reaffirm their commitment to unity and hard work in advancing development in the province.

“Your election is a manifestation of the people’s trust in your potential capability to contribute in furthering our province’s development. Let us give justice to the trust and confidence that our constituents have bestowed,” Bulut said.

In the Calabarzon region, 142 elected officials assumed their posts in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon yesterday.

Infanta Mayor L.A. Ruanto, in his inaugural address, said he would not endorse the Kaliwa Dam project, which is being developed to provide additional water supply in Metro Manila.

His stand is aligned with the position of Quezon Gov. Helen Tan and  Vice Gov. Third Alcala who have rejected the project, emphasizing the importance of protecting the Sierra Madre as the last ecological frontier in Luzon.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) warned elected officials with pending cases of removal from their posts even if they have already assumed office.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body has jurisdiction over disqualification petitions and other election-related cases and might decide to have a seating local official removed from office.

Garcia added that officials who were unable to submit their statement of contributions and expenditures to the Comelec will not be able to assume posts.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) also warned that an Office of the Ombudsman order “becomes immediately executory only insofar as it pertains to the official’s removal from the current post.”

But the DILG clarified that a “perpetual disqualification applies only upon finality of the decision.”  – Mayen Jaymalin, Emmanuel Tupas, Jun Elias, Ed Amoroso, Michelle Zoleta, Artemio Dumlao