Ebdane sworn in as Zambales governor

IBA, Zambales — Former public works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. took his oath of office here Wednesday  as governor of Zambales before a huge crowd of political supporters and community officials who packed the grounds at the Iba capitol.

(Honor guards stand in front of the Capitol of Iba during the inaugural ceremony of Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. Wednesday. Photo by Anthony Bayarong)

He was sworn into office by RTC Judge Josefina D. Farrales, who also swore in other elected officials of the province.

A political neophyte, Ebdane ran in the recent election against veteran politician Amor Deloso, who first served as OIC governor in 1986 and later won four terms, sitting as elected governor in 1988 to 1998, and again in 2007 to 2010.

Ebdane, who won by a landslide in the May 10.

In his inaugural address, Ebdane challenged Zambales officials, as well as residents, to rally to the call for change and progress, reminding them that the development of the province is everyone’s concern.

Running under the Lapiang Manggagawa (Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka) party, Ebdane gained broad support among the electorate with his political cry of purposive change and development for all.

Ebdane received a total of 125,202 votes against Deloso’s tally of 96,112, edging out the four-term governor by a total of 29,090 votes.