Mayor Guillermo Sandalo Legaspi, Dalaguete, Cebu
Before the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolt, majority of those of who held elective positions especially in Cebu were either lawyers or doctors, such was the case of Guillermo Legaspi of Dalaguete, Cebu.
Guillermo, born on June 25, 1919, was the son of Floro Legaspi and Godofreda Sandalo. He married Ma. Milagros Almagro (an in-law, Conrado Osorio Almagro being the vice mayor succeeded Mayor Guillermo Legaspi as mayor when the latter filed his Certificate of Candidacy in 1969). Guillermo and Ma. Milagros married a year after he passed the Bar Examinations on February 2, 1951.
As a young lawyer, he ran and won as mayor of Dalaguete defeating Mayor Carlos Selerio Montenegro (who, before being appointed by Pres. Manuel Roxas in 1946 as mayor of Dalaguete, was elected mayor of Argao in 1919) in the general elections held on November 10, 1959. It was during his leadership of Dalaguete that the Municipal Council passed a resolution opposing the idea of dividing Cebu into two provinces, naming one into an "Osmeña Province." The municipal resolution was dated May 10, 1962.
In the election held in 1964, he prevailed over Epifanio Llanos Sr. and Vicente Salvador (members of the Salvador Clan became mayors of Dalaguete, namely: Cristino, Francisco Sandalo Salvador and Filemon Osorio Salvador). In 1968 he sought for reelection (for his third term) and defeated Ananias Lumayag. He ran for the 1969 congressional elections against Gaudencio Beduya.
On July 9, 1969, Mayor Legaspi filed an action for certiorari questioning the authority of the Cebu Provincial Board's decision on August 2, 1968 finding him guilty of oppression and serious misconduct in office filed by Governor Rene Espina against Mayor Legaspi. The decision imposed a penalty of suspension as mayor of Dalaguete. Mayor Legaspi argued that he was denied due process as the case was heard ex parte, meaning without his participation.
Mayor Legaspi, while the case was pending, filed his certificate of candidacy on September 4, 1969 for congressman of the old fourth congressional district of Cebu. His running considered him by operation of law resigned from his position as mayor.
Mayor Legaspi legal action that reached the Supreme Court was dismissed on September 30, 1970, as the Court ordered that the records of his case should be forwarded to the Executive Secretary of the Office of the President. Mayor Legaspi's legal counsels were Norberto J. Quisumbing and Joel P. Alino.
The respondents of the case filed by Mayor Legaspi against the Cebu Provincial Government aside from Gov. Rene Espina were Dr. Osmundo Rama, Vice Governor, Board Members: Atty. Pablo P. Garcia, Reynaldo Mendiola, and Atty. Valeriano Carillo.
But his defeat in the congressional race was not the end of his political career. He was elected as member of the provincial board of Cebu in 1971, serving until 1976. He championed for the building of the 17-room Dalaguete Provincial High School.
In 1964, these were the officials of Dalaguete under Mayor Legaspi:
Conrada C. Almagro, Vice Mayor, Diosdado C. Belcina, Municipal Secretary, Dominador Tumulak, Judge, Isaias D. Tumuran, Treasurer, Norberto S. Legaspi, Chief of Police, Dr. Rosario Navarro, Health Officer. Councilors: Floro Buenconcejo, Victor Centeno, Juan Cesante, Candidto Selerio, Atty. Tarcisio Buenconcejo, Maximo Palapos, Absalon Getalaga and Jose Osorio.
Mayor Guillermo Legaspi died on November 19, 1991.
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