Sunday, March 02, 2008 Domogan willing to be caretaker of Mt. Province By Rimaliza Opiña
LET House Speaker Prospero Nograles decide whom he will appoint as "caretaker" of Mountain Province, pending election of a new congressman.
Several leaders at Mountain Province earlier passed a resolution tasking Baguio Representative Mauricio Domogan to be the province's overseer, until Congress passes a budget for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to call for a special election.
While local leaders may have chosen whoever they want to represent them in Congress, Domogan said a factor to consider is party affiliation.
The late Mountain Province Representative Victor Dominguez belonged to the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi). Domogan on the other hand belongs to the Lakas party.
The Dominguez clan reportedly prefers someone who comes from the same party where the late lawmaker is affiliated.
Domogan said he never asked to be delegated as caretaker and was not consulted when the resolution was passed. He, however, said if Nograles appoints him as Mountain Province caretaker, he would accept.
During the wake of the late Dominguez, reports surfaced that Domogan was pushing for his appointment as Mountain Province caretaker.
Domogan said no influencing occurred. Right after the resolution was passed, he said he talked to the signatories and told them to consult and get the consent of the Dominguez family.
"I do not have any quarrel with them," Domogan stressed, adding he will not receive any salary or be allowed to disburse Dominguez's Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
"It is an added responsibility, which I will accept if the Speaker appoints me," he said.
In the meantime, Mountain Province Governor Maximo Dalog is being eyed as candidate to replace Dominguez, in case special elections were held.
Sources close to the governor said Dalog has been asked to run for the position, which Dominguez vacated.
