Governor Jose “Petit” Baldado has said that he is not going to challenge Vice Governor-elect Agustin Perdices’ assumption to the governorship to fill the vacancy created by the death of reelected Gov. Emilio Macias II. {{more}}
“I have made a promise. I am stepping down,” Baldado told the MetroPost in a telephone interview Friday.
Baldado said he decided to yield the governorship, against the advice of some of his advisers, in order to heal the Province. “We have become a very divided Province,” he said.
He also said that anyone wishing to challenge the legitimacy of Perdices’ governorship will not have his support.
Lawyers are divided on whether Perdices is entitled to move up to the post of Governor based on the rule of succession in the Local Government Code or whether a special election is needed to select a new governor. In the absence of a
Supreme Court ruling on the matter, some lawyers say the two opposing legal angles need to be tested through a court case.
The possible scenario of a political hiatus prompted Rep. George Arnaiz (2nd Dist.) to step in to ensure a smooth transition between Baldado and Perdices on June 30.
Arnaiz said he arranged the meeting with the two officials over lunch Tuesday at the Perdices-owned Mamia Restaurant to discuss the terms of a peaceful transfer of power.
Perdices had earlier said he is bent on assuming the governorship of Negros Oriental immediately after he assumes the position of Vice-Governor on June 30.
Baldado, last May 13, had asked the Commission on Elections to nullify the victory of Macias and instead declare him as the rightful winner in the May 10 elections. He pursued this case by filing a Memorandum before the Comelec on June 15. This matter is still pending before the Comelec.
Perdices, for his part, said he welcomes the pronouncements of Baldado. “We were never at odds, even as our respective lawyers had differences in opinion,” he said.
He also said he and Baldado ran under the same team.
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