The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has issued a letter designating Venzencio B. Arcamo as the Acting Vice Governor of the Province of Bohol.
The appointment comes in response to recent events that have created a temporary vacancy in the provincial leadership.
According to the letter, signed by DILG Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr., Arcamo’s appointment is to fill the vacancy created on July 18, 2024, following the death of Acting Governor (Vice Governor) Dionisio Victor Balite.
The event triggered an automatic succession, with Acting Vice Governor Tita Baja assuming the role of Vice Governor, and now the Acting Governor.
The letter also reveals that the current Governor, Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado, is under a preventive suspension for six months, which took effect on May 28, 2024.
The situation has necessitated the appointment of an Acting Vice Governor to ensure continuity in local government operations, DILG said.
Arcamo, previously serving as a 2nd Ranked Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member for the Province of Bohol, will now discharge the powers and perform the duties and functions of a Vice Governor as mandated by law.
However, the letter specifies that he is restricted from making or participating in any decisions related to certain items enumerated in DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2019-21.
The appointment is made pursuant to Administrative Order No. 15, which authorizes the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government to fill temporary vacancies in local elective offices to prevent disruptions in local government operations.
DILG’s swift action in appointing an Acting Vice Governor demonstrates the government’s commitment to maintaining stable leadership and ensuring the continued functioning of local government in Bohol during this period of transition.