Negros Oriental Gov. Henry Teves yesterday said he would abide by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)’s decision ordering him to step down from his post thru proper court order.
“I am a government official, and a law abiding citizen. And I have a lot of respect for our DILG,” Governor Teves said.
He also appealed to his constituents to remain calm and sober and not to resort to what his political opponent did after the last elections, who “barricaded himself inside his office” surrounded by his supporters.
The governor assured the people of Negros Oriental that it should be the law that would prevail in their province, adding that the case is now up in the Supreme Court (SC).
During the last May elections, two Degamos ran for the gubernatorial post, one was the incumbent governor, Roel Degamo. Teves was among the contenders.
The election resulted in Teves winning as Negros Oriental governor. He was officially declared by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as the winner and he assumed his post.
The Degamos’ political dispute dragged Teves into the case, although the governor maintained that he is not a party to it.
Teves earlier questioned the DILG regional director who presented him a Comelec order for him to vacate his post.
He said that the Comelec order is “defective” for it’s the court that has proper authority to “uninstall” him.
Teves added that it should be the court that must order the DILG to implement its decision and not that of the Comelec.
He said that if the court’s order says that he would step down as governor, then he would abide by it.