President Carlos Polistico Garcia’s Cebuano appointees

President Garcia married Leonila Dimataga, daughter of Bartolome Mangubat Dimataga, the fifth municipal president of Opon (now Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu). The brother of Leonila, by the name of Mariano, was fondly called “Dodong Oping” and became the last municipal mayor of Opon and the first Lapu-Lapu City mayor. Among the appointees of President Garcia were:

Alejandro D. Almendras as secretary of the Department of General Services on March 31, 1958. Alejandro was the son of Paulo Almendras and Elisea Mercado Durano (sister of the legendary political kingpin of Danao, Ramon Durano). Alejandro, nicknamed “Landring”, became a World War II hero and was part of the Cebu Area Command headed by Col. James Cushing. After the war, Landring migrated to Davao and studied Law. He ran for Davao governor in 1951 and won. His appointment to the Department of General Services was in preparation for his candidacy as senator under the Nacionalista Party of President Garcia. This also paved the way for the appointment of lawyer Vicente Duterte as Davao governor upon the request of Alejandro Almendras (also known as the Father of Davao).

Leonila Dimataga Garcia’s sister by the name of Rosita married Josefino Durano Almendras who was the brother of Governor/Senator Alejandro Almendras.

The Department of General Services was created by President Garcia by virtue of Executive Order No. 290 signed on March 14, 1958. President Garcia lost to Diosado Macapagal (then his vice president) in the presidential election held on November 14, 1961. Governor Vicente Duterte (his son, Rodrigo, also a lawyer was elected president in 2016) who lost in his reelection was appointed by President Marcos with the help of his political benefactor, Senator Almendras, to be appointed as secretary of the Department of General Services. Governor/Secretary Vicente Duterte died on February 21, 1968. Later President Marcos abolished the department.

Pio Ferrandos was appointed as provincial fiscal of Cebu, August 20, 1958, Jesus Borromeo, Jr., as provincial fiscal of Bohol, August 20, 1958, Capt. Arcadio Lozada as chief of police of Cebu City, April 10, 1959, Mrs. Librada L. Pace as vice mayor of Barili, Cebu, April 10, 1959, Restituto Trocio as councilor of Toledo, Cebu, April 10, 1959 and Pastor Abellana as councilor of Balamban, Cebu, April 10, 1959.