ILOILO – Governor-elect Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr.’s inauguration today is a historic first in the province.
He is succeeding his father as provincial chief executive – the first time such kind of succession is taking place at the capitol.
The outgoing congressman of the 3rd District, Defensor Jr. will become governor effective June 30, the day his father and namesake, Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr., steps down after three consecutive terms (2010-2013, 2013-2016, 2016-2019).
Ilonggo Supreme Court Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza will be administering the oath of office of Defensor Jr. this afternoon at the provincial capitol lobby.
Jardeleza, a native of Jaro, Iloilo City, was appointed to the Supreme Court by then President Benigno Aquino III in August 2014. He served as Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon in 2011 before becoming the Solicitor General in February 2012.
Defensor Jr. served as congressman of the 3rd District for three consecutive three-year terms beginning in 2010.
Prior to becoming congressman, he was a member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Like his father, Defensor Jr. is a lawyer by profession.
Last month a day after the May 13 midterm elections, the elder Defensor became emotional and struggled for words to describe what seemed like an impossible feat – his son defeating a formidable opponent for governor, Cong. Ferjenel Biron of the 4th District.
“These are moments when our happiness could not be well expressed,” said Defensor Sr.
The younger Defensor posted an insurmountable lead of some 90,000 votes over Biron.
“Daw indi mapatihan. Siling nila daw ka-impossible, daw indi gid puede magdaog si Toto under the present circumstances. Pero at the end of the day it is not the politicians who will decide the leadership in public governance in the province of Iloilo. Ang pumoluyo sa gihapon (have the final say),” said Defensor Sr.
The election results proved, he said, that Ilonggos could not be swayed with money and black propaganda and that they put premium on a candidate’s good deeds and clean track record in public service.
Meanwhile, new and reelected members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) led by Vice Gov. Christine Garin will also take oath before Jardeleza today. They are the following:
* Valentin Serag and Renee Valencia (1st district)
* Rolito Cajilig and June Mondejar (2nd District)
* Matt Palabrica and Jason Gonzales (3rd District)
* Rolly Distura and Domingo Oso Jr. (4th District)
* Carol Espinosa and Darl Tupas (5th District)
Some municipal mayors would also be taking their oath of office before Jardeleza such as former provincial administrator Raul Banias, now mayor-elect of Concepcion town.
Born in 1949, Supreme Court Associate Justice Jardeleza finished his elementary education at Jaro Elementary School as valedictorian in 1961, and his secondary education at the University of the Philippines (UP) – Iloilo High School in 1965 also as valedictorian.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at UP-Iloilo in 1969 and proceeded with his law studies.
In 1974 he graduated salutatorian and on the same year placed third in the bar exams.
Jardeleza obtained his Masters of Law from the Harvard Law School three years after he was admitted to the bar./PN
