BALANGA CITY – Elected congressional, provincial and municipal/city officials of Bataan in the recent May 14 polls officially took their oath of office in simple ceremonies held Wednesday at The Bunker, seat of the provincial government here.
The oathtaking took place at the ground floor of the World War 2- inspired seven-storey building after a Holy Mass officiated by Bishop Ruperto Santos. Bataan Regional Trial Court Executive Judges Marion Jacqueline Poblete, Jose Marie Quimboy, and Amelita Cruz-Corpuz administered the oath to the four congressmen, governor, vice governor, and 10 board members.
Mayors, vice mayors and councilors from 11 towns and one city took their oath before outgoing Gov. Albert “Abet” Garcia.
Among those who took the oath were four Garcia siblings – outgoing Gov. Abet as 2nd District congressman, outgoing 2nd District Rep. Jose Enrique “Joet” Garcia III as new governor, Dinalupihan Mayor Maria Angela “Gila” as congresswoman of the newly-created 3rd District and Balanga City Mayor Francis Garcia.
1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman, Pusong Pinoy Partylist Rep. Jett Nisay and Vice-Gov. Ma. Cristina Garcia also took their oath.
The incoming members of the sangguniang panlalawigan are Atty. Antonino Roman III, Atty. Jomar Gaza, and Benjamin Serrano, Jr. in the 1st District; Maria Margarita Roque, Manuel Beltran, and Noel Valdecanas in the 2nd District and Romano del Rosario, Roman Harold Espeleta, Angelito Sunga, and Dr. Jorge Estanislao in the 3rd District.
The mayors are Tong Santos of Dinalupihan, Jopet Inton of Hermosa, Efren Pascual, Jr. of Orani, Alex Acuzar of Samal, Robin Tagle of Abucay, Francis Garcia of Balanga City, Carlos Pizarro, Jr. of Pilar, Antonio Raymundo of Orion, Nelson David of Limay, AJ Concepcion of Mariveles, Cynthia Estanislao of Morong, and Ramil del Rosario of Bagac.
The oathtaking concluded with the symbolic transfer of the seal and flag of the provincial government, miniature replica of The Bunker and QR code containing certified documents and records of the Capitol from outgoing Gov. Abet to incoming Gov. Joet.
