The Department of the Interior & Local Government has expressed hope that the delivery of local government services for the people of Negros Oriental would no longer be disrupted.
This came as the squabble over the Province’s governorship between Pryde Henry Teves and Roel Degamo peacefully ended on Tuesday afternoon, with Teves stepping down to give way to Degamo, although vowing that “this is far from over”.
The Supreme Court chose not to issue a Temporary Restraining Order when they met En Banc last Tuesday, and gave 15 days for Degamo to submit his comment on the Petition for Certiorari submitted by Teves.
The Supreme Court also gave the Office of the Solicitor General 30 days to submit their comment as lawyers of the Commission on Elections.
“We are thankful that the governorship dispute in Negros Oriental has been resolved, with Teves respecting and adhering to the Comelec ruling proclaiming Degamo as the duly-elected governor of the Province,” Interior & Local Government Sec. Benjamin Abalos Jr. said in a statement.
Abalos also thanked DILG 7 (Central Visayas) Director Leocadio Trovela and DILG Negros Oriental Director Farah Gentuya for their role in the negotiations, and for ensuring a smooth transition of power.
He also thanked Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo who likewise facilitated smooth communications with both Teves and Degamo.
“We appeal to the supporters of both Degamo and Teves to set aside politics, and to work in unison for the benefit and welfare of all Negrenses,” Abalos said.
In September, the Comelec En Banc proclaimed Degamo as the duly-elected Negros Oriental governor after it declared another candidate, Ruel Degamo, as a nuisance.
In the Writ of Execution signed by Chairman George Garcia, the Comelec ordered Ruel’s votes to be transferred to Roel Degamo, resulting in the former governor’s victory, with Degamo getting 331,726 votes over Teves’ 301,319 votes.
Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, one of the legal counsels of Teves, previously said his client could have stayed at the Capitol while the case before the Supreme Court was pending.
He said Teves was not a party to the Degamo versus Degamo disqualification case, and thus should not be made to suffer from the resolution of their case. (With a report from Judy F. Partlow)
