Carpio to swear in Pacquiao, other Sarangani officials

ALABEL, Sarangani, Philippines – The stage is set for today’s oath taking of the newly elected officials of this province.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio will administer the oath of office to all the incoming officials, led by Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez and congressman-elect Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao at the provincial capitol grounds.

Dominguez was re-elected to his third and last term, while Pacquiao won his congressional bid in this province. The world boxing champion ran for General Santos City congressman in 2007 but lost.

Dominguez and Pacquiao ran on different tickets, the Sarangani Reconciliation and Reformation Organization and the People’s Champ Movement, respectively, but well-wishers are hoping the two rival camps could come to a working alliance to push the development of this resource-rich but impoverished province.

Provincial information officer Serafin Ramos Jr. said the inauguration rites will start at 8 a.m. with a processional, then the introduction of all the municipal, provincial and congressional officials, and Carpio, the administering official.

Vice Gov. Steve Solon will be sworn in first, followed by all the provincial board members, namely Dr. Elmer de Peralta, Cornelio Martinez Jr., Limuel Gacula and Bryan Reganit of the first district (comprising the towns of Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum); and Eleanor Saguiguit, Hermie Galzote, Virgilio Tobias, Hadji Abdulrahman Pangolima and Benedicto Ruiz II of the second district (composed of the towns of Malungon, Alabel, Malapatan and Glan).

The mayors, vice mayors and councilors of all of the province’s seven towns will then take their oath of office en masse, the first time it is going to be done since the province was established in 1992.

Then it will be the turn of Dominguez and Pacquiao at the podium, where they will be delivering there respective inaugural addresses before some 6,000 guests, including several international and local sports, media and showbiz personalities.