Vice Governor Hernandez takes oath as acting Laguna governor

(Updated 4:19 p.m.) Laguna Vice Governor Ramil Hernandez took his oath Tuesday afternoon as acting provincial governor following the disqualification of Governor ER Ejercito over campaign overspending.

Hernandez took his oath at the Commission on Elections' national office in Manila after Ejercito failed to secure a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court. Hernandez was with his wife and two daughters.

In a press conference, Hernandez said he will immediately assume the post to prevent delay in the operation of the capitol.

“Ang epekto ng pag-lapse ng five days na binigay ng Comelec ay mawawalan na ng kapangyarihan si Gov. ER Ejercito so technically wala nang gubernador ang Laguna kaya kailangan ko pong manumpa para hindi magambala yung serbisyo o operasyon ng probinsya,” he said.

Noting that Ejercito's supporters were still camped out outside the capitol, Hernandez said he may hold office elsewhere, although he said the Department of Interior and Local Government and Philipppine National Police are helping in the implementation of the Comelec order.

He said some of his friends are helping for a diplomatic discussion between him and Ejercito.

“Sana ay magkaroon ng matahimik na turnover, transition ang probinsya kasi kung magkakaroon ng hindi magandang pangyayari ay mga kalalawigan namin ang maaapektuhan,” Hernandez said.

Board Member Karen Agapay will assume the vice-gubernatorial post as she was the one who garnered the highest number of votes in the 2013 elections.

On May 21, the Comelec en banc unanimously disqualified Ejercito for campaign overspending and gave him five days to secure a TRO from the court to stop the implemention of the decision.

Ejercito, on May 23, asked the Supreme Court to nullify the Comelec decision, but the high tribunal has yet to issue a ruling as of posting time.

Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said Ejercito shelled out P6 million in just one contract for a television advertisement for his campaign last year. Ejercito was allowed to spend only P4.5 million for his entire campaign but he spent around P23.5 million.

Brillantes said candidates are only allowed to spend P3 per registered voter. Laguna has a total of 1,525,522 voters.

Ejercito won as Laguna governor in the 2013 elections with 549,310 votes. —Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMA News