SABOTAGE ATTEMPT ON ABRA SP SESSION FAILS

November 23, 2024 Provincial

BANGUED, Abra

An attempt to sabotage the Abra Sangunniang Panlalawigan special session Tuesday morning failed, Acting Vice Governor Russel Bragas said, could have been geared to foil the local governance exercise. Power went off at the SP
session hall at the second floor of the Provincial capitol building before the special session could even start, added Atty. Bragas, “but we transferred to the new session hall to proceed.” On Thursday, the Interior department installed Atty. Bragas, being the first ranking member of SP as Acting Vice Governor, sealing the vacancy prompted by the final ruling of the Office of the President on Vice Governor Ma. Jocelyn Valera-Bernos’ 18-month suspension.

Bragas officially received his designation from DILG chief Juanito Victor C. Remulla via DILG-Cordillera regional director Araceli A. San Juan last Friday, ordering him to take over the post from Vice Gov. Bernos, “to prevent hiatus in, and paralysis, of local government operations,” and further citing DILG Memorandum Circular 2019-21 that stipulate do operational guidelines governing local government operations. The Acting Governor was supposed to lead the SP regular session on Monday, the regular schedule, but “Pepito” ravaged the province with strong winds, thus cancelling it.

Although, Bragas said, “I give (the incident) the benefit of the doubt that it was not intentional”. Bragas added that a
government activity of former rebels regarding the Expanded Integration Program (ECLIP) at the Capitol Atrium was also cancelled when electricity supply went off at the whole capitol building. Earlier in August, the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs (DESLA) of the Office of the President ruled for an 18 month suspension for Valera-Bernos after she was found guilty of oppression, abuse of authority, conduct unbecoming of a
public official, and disobedience to national government policies stemming from a complaint filed in December 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr. Voltaire L. Seares the medical director of Dr. Petronillo Seares Sr. Memorial Hospital complained against Valera-Bernos’ unjust imposition of a lockdown at the said hospital resulting in the delay and denial of the services to the people of Abra. Though on September 13, 2024, a local Court in Abra granted the petition of Valera Bernos for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the suspension order, which lapsed on September 23, 2024.In a final and executory order by the Office of the President on September 23, 2024, though, Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs (DESLA) of the Office of the Executive Secretary Anna Liza G. Logan said, Valera Bernos failed to move for a reconsideration on her 18- month suspension before the OP.

She likewise ruled by authority of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin that Valera-Bernos did not appeal the August, 2024 18-motn suspension before Court of Appeals (CA), which is the proper venue for appeals concerning administrative sanctions by the OP. DILG chief Remulla stressed to Atty. Bragas, “you shall discharge the powers and perform the duties and functions of a Vice Governor as mandated by law subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations.”

Artemio A. Dumlao/ABN