This came two days after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc affirmed its second division’s resolution on December 1 that nullified Gov. Joselito Mendoza’s proclamation in 2007 and ordered him to vacate the governor’s office to give way to Pagdanganan.
However, Lawyer Sabino Mejarito, the provincial election supervisor of Bulacan said that Pagdanganan still have to secure a writ of execution from the Comelec Election Contest Adjudication Department (ECAD) to formally assume the post of the governor.
“I wrote letters to Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the Philippine National Bank (PNB) to temporarily stop transactions of the provincial government,” Pagdanganan said in Filipino before his supporters who gathered in the unlighted Tanghalan ng Sining Kultura located at the mini-forest within the capitol grounds.
He added that his request has been granted on Wednesday when the LBP deferred to encash checks of the provincial government worth P21-Million.
His supporters said that Pagdanganan’s move is timely as it came a day after when Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of local government units for the first quarter of the year is scheduled for release.
Pagdanganan also told his supporters that he has taken an oath of office before Lawyer Joey Cruz on Wednesday afternoon, and later explained that an official’s oath of office can be rendered by a notary public.
Pagdanganan and his group later proceeded to the Gat Blas Ople Building to check its facilities, but they were later prevented by uniformed police officers belonging to the 306th Provincial Mobile Group headed by Supt. Manuel Lukban.
Lukban said that Pagdanganan cannot enter the building as they have not received order from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
While inside the building, lights went out which surprised Pagdanganan’s supporters waiting outside the building.
Some shouted, “ganyan talaga kabastos ang nakaupo, pinatay ang kuryente.”
Others said, “nararamdaman na nila ang simula ng kanilang wakas kaya pinatay ang kuryente,” which was greeted with cheers.
Moment’s later, Pagdanganan and his group along with Lukban emerged from the building.
Pagdanganan again called on his supporters to remain sober.
