THANKSGIVING. Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo, joined by his wife, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, addresses a huge crowd on Saturday (Oct. 15, 2022) at the Freedom Park following a thanksgiving caravan. Degamo was recently installed as the new governor following the disqualification of a nuisance candidate whose votes that were transferred to him, made him the winner in the May 9 polls. (Photo courtesy of Gov. Roel Ragay Degamo Facebook)
DUMAGUETE CITY – Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo on Saturday called on the mayors to support and participate in the upcoming Buglasan Festival this month as he reported for his “first day” of work in the province.
Degamo thanked thousands of supporters from all over the province for attending a thanksgiving caravan around the city after he was installed in office as the new provincial chief executive early this week following a controversial battle over the governorship of the province.
He said he was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from all sectors as he promised to implement priority plans, programs, and projects in the coming days, noting a surplus of more than PHP1 billion in unused funds this year “due to the absence of support from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan”.
The governor especially made mention to the mayors, who are supporters of the former governor, Pryde Henry Teves, and who earlier pledged to participate in the Buglasan Festival starting next week.
The Buglasan Festival is the province’s premiere showcase of the various festivals in the towns and cities and also features Negros Oriental’s socio-economic, cultural, and tourism attractions.
Teves, prior to stepping down from Capitol last Oct. 11, had already set aside millions of pesos for the Buglasan Festival with more than 20 mayors making a commitment to participate in the agri-fair and booth competition, the street dance and grand showdown competition of festivals, and other activities.
Degamo and Teves are locked in a legal battle over the governorship, stemming from the Commission on Election’s (Comelec’s) disqualification of a nuisance candidate who went by the name of Ruel Degamo.
The Comelec en banc, in a writ of execution dated Sept. 27, 2022, ruled that following the disqualification of Ruel, his votes be counted in favor of Roel, whose total votes afterward exceeded that of Teves.
Teves' camp has filed for a temporary restraining order that has not been acted by the Supreme Court but gave Degamo and the Comelec time to answer the arguments of Teves. (PNA)
