DUMAGUETE CITY–Acting Governor Jose “Petit” Baldado yesterday formally assumed as Governor of Negros Oriental, some 14 hours after the death of Gov. Emilio Macias II from liver cancer at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City. {{more}}
Baldado, accompanied by his wife Janet and daughters Riana Inez and Reina Vida, was sworn in shortly before 6 p.m. at the Governor’s Office by Regional Court Administrator Rafael Cresencio Tan.
The hastily-arranged ceremony was attended by a few of Baldado’s friends, immediate family, relatives, and Second District Rep. George Arnaiz.
In an interview after the ceremony, Baldado expressed his sympathies to the family of Gov. Macias, saying he had “mixed feelings” about assuming the governorship in a very “unusual manner”.
He said he will call the department heads on Tuesday and find out what matters need immediate attention. “We will continue with the things that were initiated by the late Gov. Macias,” Baldado said.
The order for the next two weeks, he said, will be the celebration of environmental month and the undertaking of projects that deal with climate change.
Baldado, however, refused to comment on the scenario after his term expires on June 30. “We will tackle that problem when it comes because there are other implications that we cannot discuss now. We will cross the bridge when we get there.”
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