Agnes Almendras Magpale (born January 21, 1942) is Filipina educator and politician from Cebu, Philippines. In 2010, she became a Cebu Provincial Board Member, acting Vice Governor, and acting Governor within a single three-year electoral term through succession.[1] She assumed the Vice Governor post upon the death of incumbent Gregorio Sanchez Jr. in 2010 and became acting Governor when Gwendolyn Garcia was suspended in 2012.

Agnes A. Magpale
Vice Governor of Cebu
In office
May 10, 2011 – June 30, 2019
GovernorGwendolyn Garcia
(2011–13)
Hilario Davide III
(2013–19)
Preceded byGregorio Sanchez Jr.
Succeeded byHilario Davide III
Governor of Cebu
Acting
In office
December 19, 2012 – June 30, 2013
Preceded byGwendolyn Garcia
Succeeded byHilario Davide III
Member of the Cebu Provincial Board from the Cebu's 5th congressional district
In office
June 30, 1992 – June 30, 2001
In office
June 30, 2004 – May 10, 2011
Personal details
Born (1942-01-21) January 21, 1942 (age 82)
Danao, Cebu, Philippines
Political party
SpouseArsenio J. Magpale
RelationsJose Rene Almendras (younger brother)
Children
  • Josefina Patricia
  • Jose Paolo
  • Miguel Antonio
Alma mater
OccupationPresident of Northeastern Cebu Colleges

Previously, she was a member of the Provincial Board representing the 5th legislative district from 1992 until 2001. After taking a break from politics, she was elected again to the Provincial Board from 2004 until 2011.

Early life and education

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Magpale was born in Danao[2] on January 21, 1942. The eldest child of Josefino Durano Almendras of Danao and Rosita de la Serna Dimataga of Lapu-Lapu City,[1] she attended at St. Theresa's College in Cebu City.[3] Then, she graduated with an Associate in Arts at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila in 1959, acquired a bachelor's degree in nutrition at the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1963, and a master's degree in nutrition at the Drexel University in 1965.

Additionally, she earned a Certificate in Local Administration and Development from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and University of the Philippines, as well as Doctoral in Organizational Development and Transformation at the Cebu Doctors College.[1]

Political career

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Magpale established her political career in her hometown of Danao[1] and considered the local political leader, Ramon Durano III, as her mentor.[2] In over two decades in public service, she was known for her concerns for women's and children's rights.[1]

Vice Mayor

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At the age of 27,[4] her political career began in 1971 when she was elected Danao Vice Mayor.[1]

Provincial Board Member

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After she quit politics for 13 years to take care of her children,[4] she campaigned and was voted as member of the Cebu Provincial Board representing the 5th legislative district in 1992 and having been elected with the highest number of votes, she served as Presiding Officer Pro-Tempore for three consecutive terms until 2001.[1]

In 2001, she took a break from politics,[5] and she worked as the President of the Northeastern Cebu Colleges for a year.[6] President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed her as member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board in the same year.[1]

She again was voted to the Provincial Board and served for consecutive terms in 2004, 2007, and 2010.[7]

Acting Vice Governor

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Upon the death of Gregorio Sanchez Jr. due to lung cancer on April 29, 2011,[8] she was sworn as Vice Governor of the province of Cebu on May 10, 2011[2] to serve the remaining unfinished term of Sanchez.[8] An electoral protest before the Commission on Election was ongoing against Sanchez filed by businessman Glenn Soco, thus her seat at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan remained vacant in the case that the protest would be decided in favor of Soco.[2] Her assumption to the post was by virtue of her being the member of the Provincial Board who garnered the highest number of votes in the 2010 election.[1]

On February 12, 2018, the Ombudsman ruled to dismiss then Gwendolyn Garcia based on the complaint Magpale filed in 2012 over the back-filling in the Balili property,[9] a portion of which was submerged underwater.[10] However, the ruling was overturned by the Court of Appeals on May 12, 2019.[11]

Acting Governor

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She took oath as the acting governor when Garcia was suspended for six months on December 19, 2012.[1] Garcia's suspension, which was signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. on behalf of President Benigno Aquino III, stemmed from the administrative complaint filed by Gregorio Sanchez Jr. in 2010 in connection with hiring of contractual workers.[12][13] Garcia filed a temporary restraining order at the Court of Appeals,[14] stating that she had acted within the bounds of her office's authority,[15] and stayed in the Cebu Provincial Capitol until January 30, 2013,[16] while Magpale began her term as acting governor in the Legislative Building.[1]

Vice Governor

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Magpale ran for the position of Vice Governor under the Liberal Party and won in 2013[17] and was reelected for a second term in 2016.[5]

On October 17, 2018, she filed her certificate of candidacy for Governor[18] under the Nationalist People's Coalition for the 2019 mid-term election.[19] On December 20, 2018, Congresswoman Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu's 3rd district filed charges at the Office of the Ombudsman against Hilario Davide III, Agnes Magpale, and four Capitol officers on alleged appointments on positions that were "not yet to be declared vacant".[20] Davide stated that the concerned appointments were in conformance to standard procedure.[21]

On March 26, 2019, Garcia together with Provincial Board Member Alex Binghay also filed an injunction against Davide, Magpale, several Capitol officials, contractor WT Construction Inc. and Development Bank of the Philippines from constructing the ₱1.5 billion, 20-story Cebu Provincial Resource Center.[22][23] Garcia alleged that contract for the building's construction was not authorized by the Provincial Board, while Davide claimed they complied the requisite protocols in pursuing the project.[23]

Magpale was defeated by Gwendolyn Garcia of PDP–Laban, and Garcia returned as the elected Governor of Cebu in 2019.[24]

Net worth

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According to the 2018 statements of assets, liabilities and net worth, she was the richest elected official in Cebu province with personal properties amounting to ₱44.83 million. She served as the president of Northeastern Cebu Colleges, a family-owned enterprise, and had financial interests with JD Almendras Agro Industrial Development Corporation. Both businesses were located in Danao.[25]

Personal life

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She married Arsenio J. Magpale, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals, who died on April 4, 2010.[26] The couple had three children: Josefina Patricia, Jose Paolo, and Miguel Antonio.[1]

Awards

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  • Zonta Leadership
  • Garbo sa Danao
  • Ten Outstanding Cebuano UP Alumni Award
  • Cebuano Heritage Award
  • St. Theresa's College Achievers' Award[3]
  • 888 New Forum Award as chair of the committee on tourism and international affairs of the Provincial Board[27]
  • 2016 The Outstanding Cebuano Award[28]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Israel, Dale G. (December 31, 2012). "Acting Gov. Magpale: Twice promoted". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d Sollano, Jose P. (May 11, 2011). "Magpale is now vice governor". philstar.com. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Agnes Almendras Magpale: Competence, integrity, and passion | The Freeman". philstar.com. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Magpale, Davide start campaign caravan in Danao City". cebudailynews.inquirer.net. March 29, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Fernandez, Rona Joyce T. (May 7, 2019). "Garcia, Magpale offer solutions to Cebu's woes". Sunstar. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  6. ^ "Vice-Governor Agnes Almendras Magpale". Cebu Provincial Government. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  7. ^ The history of Cebu, Philippines. Cebu (Philippines : Province),, University of San Carlos. Cebu City. 2014. ISBN 9789719972235. OCLC 953176470.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. ^ a b Borromeo, Rene U. (April 30, 2011). "Vice Gov Sanchez dies of lung cancer". philstar.com. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  9. ^ "Magpale notes 'discrepancies' in Balili contract". Sun Star Cebu. December 18, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  10. ^ Cupin, Bea (February 16, 2018). "Gwen Garcia and the Balili property: A tale of two controversies". Rappler. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  11. ^ "Timing of CA decision perfect: Gwen Garcia". Sunstar. May 12, 2019. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  12. ^ Bernal, Buena (April 25, 2014). "CA clears Cebu's Garcia of grave misconduct in land deal". Rappler. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  13. ^ Sorote, Ryan (December 19, 2012). "Aquino suspends Cebu Gov Gwen Garcia". Rappler. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  14. ^ Israel, Ador Vincent Mayol, Dale G. (January 31, 2013). "Gwen threatens to sue Agnes". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved May 28, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Sorote, Ryan (December 19, 2012). "Aquino suspends Cebu Gov Gwen Garcia". Rappler. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  16. ^ Burgonio, T. J. (January 31, 2013). "Padlocking of Garcia's office 'settles the issue,' says Aquino aide". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  17. ^ "LP's Davide beats Garcia for Cebu governor". Rappler. May 17, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  18. ^ "Bets and last day of filing COCs". cebudailynews.inquirer.net. October 18, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  19. ^ "Certified List of Candidates (Provincial): Region VII" (PDF). Commission on Election. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  20. ^ Abatayo, Rosalie O. (January 2, 2019). "Garcia sues Davide, Magpale, Capitol execs; asks Ombudsman to suspend Capitol officials". cebudailynews.inquirer.net. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  21. ^ Abatayo, Rosalie O. (January 3, 2019). "Davide insists appointment of Rodas and Catan legal and above board". Inquirer.net. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  22. ^ Gravinez, Sheila C. (May 17, 2019). "P1.3-B project's fate 'rests with court, not with new gov'". Sunstar. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  23. ^ a b "Injunction raps filed vs. Cebu guv over building project". www.pna.gov.ph. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  24. ^ Tizon, Micole Gerard (May 13, 2019). "Gwendolyn Garcia returns as Cebu's governor". Rappler. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  25. ^ "Magpale 'richest' Capitol official". Sunstar. April 30, 2019. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  26. ^ "Retired judge Magpale passes away". Philippine Star. April 6, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  27. ^ "888 New Forum awards Cebu leaders". philstar.com. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  28. ^ "Magpale leads outstanding Cebuano awardees | The Freeman". philstar.com. Retrieved May 27, 2019.