Camarines Sur vice governor tenders resignation

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — Camarines Sur Vice Gov. Fortunato Peña is resigning from his post effective Feb. 28.

In a post on Facebook, Peña said he submitted his letter of resignation to the Office of the President on Wednesday.

“The reason for my resignation is personal. I will remain... a loyal supporter of Gov. (Miguel Luis) Migs and the Villafuerte family,” Peña’s post read.

Villafuerte is seeking reelection in the May polls.

 “I posted this announcement to correct earlier posts by other individuals putting political color on my resignation,” Peña added.

 The vice governor is not running for any position in the elections in May.

“Even if I am no longer vice governor, I will still serve the province either in my private of any official capacity,” Peña said in a separate statement.

There are reports that Peña will be appointed as secretary of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. The position has been vacant for some time now.

Board member Romulo Hernandez is expected to replace Peña as vice governor based on the rule of succession.

Ex-mayor’s congressional bid junked

Meanwhile, a local court ruled that former Pasig City mayor Maribel Andaya-Eusebio could not run for congresswoman of the second district of Camarines Sur in the elections in May.

Regional Trial Court Judge Irma Isidora Boncodin-Zamudio dismissed Eusebio’s appeal to be included on the list of voters in Barangay Puro Batia in Lidmanan town for lack of merit and insufficiency of evidence.

The court affirmed the findings of the Election Registration Board of the Commission on Elections denying Eusebio’s petition, noting that the ERB is in a better position to pass judgment on election-related issues.

“It is not the task for the appellate court or this court to once again weigh the evidence submitted... and passed upon by the administrative body and  substitute its own judgment regarding the sufficiency of evidence,” the court ruling read.    

It is the second court decision against Eusebio’s petition to transfer her registration from Pasig. The Third Metropolitan Circuit Trial Court of Libmanan-Cabusao also rejected her bid. 

Eusebio is the wife of the incumbent Pasig mayor, Roberto, and sister of House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. – With Non Alquitran