Rep. Ecleo’s daughter chosen as interim gov of Dinagat province

SURIGAO CITY — As expected, the 36-year-old daughter of Rep. Glenda Ecleo (first district, Surigao del Norte) was chosen by the Dinagat Island Association of Local Government Units (DIALGU) as the interim governor of the newly created province of Dinagat.

The association recommended Geraldine Ecleo-Villaroman, who is married to a businessman from Luzon, as the interim governor of the seven-town province, together with other provincial officials, to President Arroyo.

Surigao del Norte board member Elvis de la Merced told The STAR that the President may appoint Villaroman, along with him as interim vice governor and eight provincial board members, in January.

The interim officials will run the new province until a new set of officials is elected in May 2007, De la Merced said.

Under Republic Act 9355 or the law creating Dinagat province, it is the President who will appoint the interim officials.

De la Merced said Villaroman, who has a masteral degree in public administration and is a well-traveled entrepreneur, fits the job as interim governor of the newly created province, which is mired in poverty but is endowed with rich marine, agricultural and natural resources.

De la Merced said the lone congressional district of Dinagat province will have its own representation in the House of Representatives.

"At the moment, it is Rep. Glenda Ecleo of the first district who will (act) as congresswoman (of Dinagat) until a new one is elected in May 2007 and takes an oath as the new representative of the lone district of Dinagat in June 2007," he said.

De la Merced clarified that the nine-town island of Siargao will have to choose its own House representative in May 2007, as provided under RA 9355.

"The rumors spread by some that there is confusion as to the legislative representations of Dinagat and Siargao islands are absolutely false, out to confuse everybody because RA 9355 has provisions precisely for that purpose," said De la Merced, a lawyer of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA) and a three-term provincial board member of Surigao del Norte.

He said the interim officials of Dinagat will temporarily hold office at the three-story municipal building of San Jose town.

He said San Jose was chosen to be the seat of the new province because of its Baguio City-like weather. A son of Rep. Ecleo sits as the town’s mayor. 

San Jose is also the seat of power of the PBMA, founded by Ruben Ecleo Sr., the congresswoman’s late husband.

The elder Ecleo’s heir apparent, Ruben Jr., who once served as San Jose mayor, is now spending his time at the PBMA mansion in the town as he is out on P1-million bail on parricide charges for the killing of his wife, Alona.

The other recommended interim officials of the new Dinagat province are Surigao del Norte board member Marlinda Lagroma; San Jose Vice Mayor Norberto Sarita, representing senior citizens; Dinagat Vice Mayor Zacarias Valez; lawyer Manuel Menil; Roleza Reth Torralba-Ladaga, representing northern Dinagat; Gracelyn Ecleo, daughter of Rep. Ecleo, representing overseas Filipino workers and the youth; Dinagat councilor Nilo Gulfo; and Cagdianao Vice Mayor Carlos Eludo.