“It was the worst six months of my life.” That was how Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale described her stint as Acting Governor of Cebu during the suspension of then Governor Gwen Garcia. This was quoted by Negros Oriental Vice Governor Mark Macias, now Acting Governor, to give a glimpse of what life could be in his temporary assignment.
Thrust into the post of Acting Governor with the 90-day Preventive Suspension of Gov. Roel Degamo, many would probably think this could be the best thing to happen to the Vice Governor.
But such may not be the case.
Having learned from his short stint as Governor last year with the Department of Interior and Local Government’s implementation of the Ombudsman’s Dismissal Order against Degamo, Macias pledged it would be to everyone’s best interest to leave things unchanged during these 90 days.
But many of Macias’ political allies are not quite happy about his stand and want changes–changes that could put Negros Oriental in a crossroad once more with Macias and Degamo on opposing sides and changes that could put careers of other government employees in jeopardy.
The position of acting governor–which was given one day after his 54th birthday, could be proving to be not a birthday gift but a Halloween scare.
In the end, this will be the Acting Governor’s call whether or not he will institute changes to please his allies and he alone would be answerable for his actions.
It would be best if we leave him to do what’s best.
