Negros Oriental Vice Governor Edward Mark Macias, who assumed the governorship after Governor Roel Degamo was dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman last December, was recently ordered by the Court of Appeals to return to his previous post after Degamo successfully acquired a temporary restraining order from the said court earlier this month.

After being granted the restraining order last week, Degamo returned to office shortly after and immediately revoked all orders Macias issued as governor and reinstated employees that had been removed or transferred by the vice governor.

The governor was earlier dismissed in connection with a P10 million budget item marked for ‘intelligence expenses.’ He also faced two earlier dismissal orders, wherein one was downgraded and the other subject to a separate restraining order.

Last month, Degamo accused Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales of taking vengeance after he voiced support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s proposal to investigate the Office of the Ombudsman./PLL, WDJ