Davao del Norte First District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez bared on Thursday that the holding of the Hakbang ng Maisug candle lighting Prayer Rally in Davao del Norte Sports Complex in Mankilam, Tagum City on April 14, 2024 is the main reason for Governor Edwin Jubahib’s 60-day preventive suspension.
Jubahib committed 100,000 participants to the rally, which was first staged in Davao City in January this year.
According to Alvarez, on the morning of Thursday, two emissaries were allegedly sent by Special Assistant to the President (OSAP) Antonio Lagdameo Jr. to the Provincial Capitol and urged Jubahib to cancel the rally as Lagdameo would be embarrassed.
“Ang sulti niya dili daw ipadayon ang rally kay maulawan daw siya, kay siya ang SAP unya taga Davao del Norte,” he said.
Alvarez also said that the prayer rally will also put to shame Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy and Davao del Norte Vice Governor Carlo “Oyo” Uy.
“Ang tubag ni governor murag lisod na himoon. Sabi niya wala akong puwedeng ipagmalaki sa buhay, wala akong mataas na edukasyon na puwedeng ipagmalaki, wala rin akong sapat na yaman na puwede kong ipagmalaki. Sabi niya dito man lang puwede kong ipagmalaki na meron akong isang salita. Nagbigay ako ng commitment na mag host ako ng rally dito sa sports complex ng Davao del Norte,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez added that the next day Lagdameo arrived in Tagum City and called Jubahib to meet him at a restaurant to urge the governor not to continue the prayer rally, however, the governor opted not to meet him.
“Sabi ni governor, teka muna, nakita mo may maraming tao naghihinaty para makipag-usap sa akin. Sabi niya (Jubahib) bakit ko uunahin si Anton Lagdameo, itong mga taong ito may mga kailangan at may mga problema. Ang nangyari hindi niya hinarap si Anton Lagdameo,” Alvarez said.
He said Lagdameo got angry as he felt disrespected by Jubahib for not meeting him up at the restaurant.
“Sabi niya (Lagdameo) binabastos daw siya ni Governor Edwin Jubahib at hindi siya hinarap doon sa restaurant. Tapos sabi nila okay kung hindi natin makumbinsi si governor, eh di palitan na lang natin yung governor o isuspende,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez said people from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) went to the capitol to serve the order but were not allowed to come in.
He said they just posted the order at the gate and 30 minutes after they left the capitol, Uy was sworn in as acting governor.
“Ginawan nila ngayon ng paraan kahit walang basehan at binigyan ng order of suspension. Nung makita ko ang order I was disappointed because yung order was signed by a former chief justice (Lucas) Bersamin. Former justice ito he should be the one to respect yung due process and equal protection of the law,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez said he advised Jubahib not to leave his office as he is a duly elected governor.
“Illegal yung order na inisyu ni Bersamin. Kasi it volated the very principles of the Constitution at saka yung assumption of office as acting governor, illegal din yan, kasi andiyan yung governor, sitting governor. Ang acting governor pag walang governor,” he explained.
He said with two governors it is expected that the employees will get confused about who to follow. He said he told the employees that the governor installed by the DILG is not a real governor because all of the actions were “ultra vires” or done beyond one’s legal power or authority.
“Hindi ko maintindihan itong administrasyon, wala namang gulo sa Davao del Norte sa pagpapatakbo ng probinsiya,” Alvarez said.
He said just a few weeks ago Jubahib was awarded with a Seal of Governance by the DILG.
“Tatangalin mo ang tao na yun who just received an award from DILG,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez confirmed that the rally on Sunday will push through “ come hell or high water.”
“Ang rally sa Sunday, ito rin ang napagkasunduan namin ng mga mayors, come hell or high water tuloy ang rally sa Davao del Norte,” he said.
