At least two weeks before the May 12 midterm elections, Albay in Bicol has a full-fledged provincial leader after then vice governor Baby Glenda Ong-Bongao was formally declared governor.
Ong-Bongao was sworn in on Monday as the leader of the province by lawyer Armi Ballaran Rabelas at the vice governor’s office in Albay Provincial Capitol.
The ceremony took place four days after suspended governor Edcel Glex Lagman returned from his six-month suspension, but was served a dismissal by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Lagman said he voluntarily stepped down as provincial government transactions must not be disrupted while denying allegations that he received payola from jueteng operators, which was cited as the reason for his removal.
He vowed to appeal the Ombudsman order to clear his name.
Ong-Bongao’s political journey, meanwhile, continues.
She was a three-term board member and assumed vice-governor when then elected governor Noel Rosal was suspended. She will “graduate” as Albay governor by June 2025—the first female governor of the province.
Ong-Bongao pledged to continue the solar power projects of the provincial hospitals in remotest areas in Manito, Cagraray Island and Rapu-Rapu while preparing for the transition period for the next elected governor.
She is also running as vice mayor of Tabaco City.