Palace axes father-daughter Abra Governor, Vice Governor for 18 months for administrative missteps

BAGUIO CITY (January 10, 2025) -- The Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs (DESLA) of the Office of the President (OP) this Wednesday, January 8, 2025, finally ruled to suspend Abra Governor Dominic Valera and his daughter, Vice-governor Maria Jocelyn V. Bernos, for 18 months, for administrative misteps in handling the replacement of a Sangunniang Bayan member in Bucay town who succumbed to illness in 2023.

DESLA’s ruling came after finding the two officials of the province administratively liable for a grave misconduct, abuse of authority and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, stemming from the complaint of Febes Alzate Palcon, widow of Bucay Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member Juan S. Palcon.

Palcon raised before the Office of the President that another person illegally took oath to replace his husband because then Gov. Valera-Bernos endorsed another person in violation of the Local Government Code.  She also claimed the endorsee was also recognized by then Vice-Gov. Valera as the rightful replacement of his husband.

Earlier on December 2024, the DESLA placed Valera and Vice-Governor under preventive suspension pending the final decision on the complaint by Palcon.

The DESLA pointed out that Valera and Valera-Bernos “are expected to uphold the law and strictly apply the provisions of the Local Government Code (LGC) in the exercise of their official functions and duties particularly in nominating and appointing a substitute member of the SB which was elected by the people of Bucay.” 

The decision also stated that “their act of nominating and appointing another person who is not qualified under the LGC and their deliberate failure to act on the earlier substitution filed by Palcon despite her compliance with the processes and requirements under the LGC tainted the integrity of the respective offices they are holding”.

The January 8, 2025 DESLA ruling, signed by Atty. Anna Liza G. Logan, was received by the Legal Service of the Department of Interior Local Government (DILG).