Following the dismissal of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo earlier this month, Vice Governor Edward Mark Macias recently assumed the post of governor, noting he is ready to return to his previous position should Degamo secure a restraining order on his case before the Office of the Ombudsman.

“It’s prudent to wait for [a] few weeks, one or two weeks, to find out whether Governor Degamo can come back,” he said.

Macias also noted, “We already started to institutionalize some things;” adding, his administration is ready to go “full steam ahead” if his predecessor has yet to re-assume his post.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales earlier ordered Degamo’s dismissal after he was found guilty of grave misconduct in regard to an “anomalous utilization” of the province’s 2013 budget.

The dismissed governor was already serving a 90-day suspension over allegations regarding the suspected misuse of provincial calamity funds, which was handed down back in October.

Degamo believes Morales’ actions were made in response to earlier voicing support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s proposal to investigate the Office of the Ombudsman.

The governor also pointed out, earlier this year, he filed complaints before the Department of Justice, accusing Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Paul Elmer Clemente and Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices Cyryl Ramos of graft.

Degamo also believes he is being unfairly targeted as he continues to be dealt charges despite the Condonation Legal Doctrine, or the Aguinaldo Doctrine, wherein reelection to office is considered an acceptance of an official’s actions, which re-elected officials often utilize./DGB, WDJ