Davao Del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib couldn’t contain his emotions in his message during the Maisug Peace Rally in Tagum City.
“My fellow countrymen, it is up to you to judge who is right, who abused power, and who are the oppressed. God knows, and you know, our noble intentions for the development of the people of Davao del Norte. I trust in our Creator that soon, we will know the truth and justice will prevail. We will not give up. We will stand, we will fight, because this fight is not just ours, it is everyone’s fight,” Gov. Jubahib said.
This was the emotional message of Davao Del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib at the Maisug Prayer Rally last Sunday, April 14.
Jubahib criticized the unjust preventive suspension imposed by the Office of the President against him, which he believes has long been resolved between him and his board member regarding the issue using a vehicle.
According to the governor, it has been two years since the incident where he initially used one of Board Member Orly Amit’s vehicles at the Provincial Engineer’s Office due to the urgent need of the office for day-to-day operations, which was later returned to the board member. So he wonders why it is being brought up again.
“When I returned the vehicle, he accepted it, we met in several programs, almost two years, two years… an amicable settlement was reached, upon his acceptance of the case. This means the issue was resolved or ended,” he added.
According to Jubahib, the suspension imposed on him was unjust.
‘’I was not even given the opportunity to speak or at least be heard to present my side, so that the Office of the President and DILG could make a fair decision.’’
“What do you think they did to me? Isn’t this an extreme abuse of authority? Isn’t its power tripping or political harassment?” he said.
He suspects that the issue stems with his complaint in the Senate and Congress about the poor service and exorbitant fees of the North Davao Electric Cooperative or NORDECO, as well as the issue of the AICS aid scam in which the money that the beneficiaries receive are allegedly forcibly taken from them.
Meanwhile, Davao Del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez revealed another reason why the governor was removed from his office.
“He was told, “Governor, do not allow the Maisug rally here in Davao del Norte. Gov. Jubahib’s response was that he already committed to [allow the rally]. “I allowed them.” He said, “I have no more…I’m a man of my word,’’ he said.
Governor Jubahib thought it was over, he already delivered his message.
“Then, a few days later, some of Lagdameo’s staff went to his office, saying “Governor, Anton Lagdameo is at Mico’s brew. He wants to talk to you, he came here to Tagum City personally. Governor Edwin Jubahib’s response was, “Did you see those people lined up in my office? They’ve been there since six in the morning— waiting because they have problems to tell me. He said, “I’ll attend to them first because they’ve been waiting for a long time.” So he didn’t go to Lagdameo at Mico’s brew.
Following this issue, the Office of the President asserted that the preventive suspension imposed on Governor Jubahib did not violate due process.
Meanwhile, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin justified that the administrative complaint filed by Board Member Amit against Gov. Jubahib underwent thorough scrutiny, and it was found that there was sufficient basis for the complaint to suspend Jubahib due to grave abuse of authority and oppression.
