Mendoza holding on to Bulacan post

Ousted Bulacan Governor Joselito “Jonjon" Mendoza on Tuesday said he would only vacate his position should the Supreme Court fail to issue a restraining order preventing his rival, Roberto Pagdanganan, from assuming as the province's top chief executive. "Kapag sabihin po ng Korte Suprema na ako ang natalo, bababa po ako nang kusa [Should the Supreme Court say I lost, I will bow out voluntarily]," Mendoza was quoted as saying in a report by GMA News’ Ivan Mayrina aired on QTV’s Balitanghali. On the other hand, Pagdanganan is waiting for the Interior and Local Government to serve a writ of execution – removing Mendoza from the post and installing Pagdanganan as the province’s duly-elected governor in the 2007 elections.

In a related development, a radio dzBB report quoted Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno as saying at a press conference that the department’s issuance of the writ would depend on the decision of the high court, which is expected to take up the matter on Tuesday afternoon’s en banc session. The Commission on Elections had declared Pagdanganan as the winner, but Mendoza asked the high court to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) to bar his rival from sitting as Bulacan governor. [See: Pagdanganan is Bulacan Governor, Comelec says] The radio report said Pagdanganan and Mendoza’s supporters continued to gather at the Bulacan provincial capitol in Malolos, Bulacan. Security remained tight at the area, the report added. Pagdanganan had already set up office at the Blas Ople Building within the provincial capitol, while Mendoza still sits as governor at the capitol building — leaving the provincial government in a bind because of the existence of two governors. Mayrina reported that the situation caused conflict and confusion within government transactions because Pagdanganan had already issued memoranda and orders — which Mendoza’s office refused to recognize and execute. — with Sophia Dedace/RSJ, GMANews.TV