Agnes Magpale

Agnes Almendras Magpale (born January 21, 1942) is Filipino Visayan 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.[2] 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
Preceded byGregorio Sanchez, Jr.
Succeeded byHilario Davide III
Acting Governor of Cebu
In office
December 19, 2012 – June 30, 2013
Preceded byGwendolyn Garcia
Succeeded byHilario Davide III
Member of the
Cebu Provincial Board
from the 5th 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
Danao City, Cebu, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Political party
Spouse(s)Arsenio J. Magpale
Children
  • Josefina Patricia
  • Jose Paolo
  • Miguel Antonio
Alma mater
OccupationPresident of Northeastern Cebu Colleges
Net worth₱44.83 million (as of December 2018)[1]

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

Magpale was born in Danao City[3] on January 21, 1942. The eldest child of Josefino Durano Almendras of Danao City and Rosita de la Serna Dimataga of Lapu-lapu City,[2] she attended at St. Theresa's College in Cebu City.[4] 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.[2]

Political career

Magpale established her political career in her hometown of Danao[2] and considered the local political leader, Ramon Durano III, as her mentor.[3] In over two decades in public service, she was known for her concerns for women's and children's rights.[2]

Vice Mayor

At the age of 27,[5] her political career began in 1971 when she was elected Danao Vice Mayor.[2]

Provincial Board Member

After she quit politics for 13 years to take care of her children,[5] 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.[2]

In 2001, she took a break from politics,[6] and she worked as the President of the Northeastern Cebu Colleges for a year.[7] President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed her as member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board in the same year.[2]

She again was voted to the Provincial Board and served for consecutive terms in 2004, 2007, and 2010.[8]

Acting Vice Governor

Upon the death of Gregorio Sanchez, Jr. due to lung cancer on April 29, 2011,[9] she was sworn as Vice Governor of the province of Cebu on May 10, 2011[3] to serve the remaining unfinished term of Sanchez.[9] 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.[3] 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.[2]

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,[10] a portion of which was submerged underwater.[11] However, the ruling was overturned by the Court of Appeals on May 12, 2019.[12]

Acting Governor

She took oath as the acting governor when Garcia was suspended for six months on December 19, 2012.[2] 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.[13][14] Garcia filed a temporary restraining order at the Court of Appeals,[15] stating that she had acted within the bounds of her office's authority,[16] and stayed in the Cebu Provincial Capitol until January 30, 2013,[17] while Magpale began her term as acting governor in the Legislative Building.[2]

Vice Governor

Magpale ran for the position of Vice Governor under the Liberal Party and won in 2013[18] and was reelected for a second term in 2016.[6]

On October 17, 2018, she filed her certificate of candidacy for Governor[19] under the Nationalist People's Coalition for the 2019 mid-term election.[20] 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".[21] Davide stated that the concerned appointments were in conformance to standard procedure.[22]

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.[23][24] 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.[24]

Magpale was defeated by Gwendolyn Garcia of PDP–Laban, and Garcia returned as the elected Governor of Cebu in 2019.[25]

Net worth

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 City.[1]

Personal life

She married Arsenio J. Magpale, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals, who passed away on April 4, 2010.[26] The couple had three children: Josefina Patricia, Jose Paolo, and Miguel Antonio.[2]

Awards
  • Zonta Leadership
  • Garbo sa Danao
  • Ten Outstanding Cebuano UP Alumni Award
  • Cebuano Heritage Award
  • St. Theresa’s College Achievers' Award[4]
  • 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
  1. "Magpale 'richest' Capitol official". Sunstar. 2019-04-30. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  2. Israel, Dale G. (December 31, 2012). "Acting Gov. Magpale: Twice promoted". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  3. Sollano, Jose P. (May 11, 2011). "Magpale is now vice governor". philstar.com. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  4. "Agnes Almendras Magpale: Competence, integrity, and passion | The Freeman". philstar.com. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  5. "Magpale, Davide start campaign caravan in Danao City". cebudailynews.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2019-05-28.
  6. Fernandez, Rona Joyce T. (2019-05-07). "Garcia, Magpale offer solutions to Cebu's woes". Sunstar. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  7. "Vice-Governor Agnes Almendras Magpale". Cebu Provincial Government. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  8. The history of Cebu, Philippines. Cebu (Philippines : Province),, University of San Carlos. Cebu City. ISBN 9789719972235. OCLC 953176470.CS1 maint: others (link)
  9. Borromeo, Rene U. (April 30, 2011). "Vice Gov Sanchez dies of lung cancer". philstar.com. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  10. "Magpale notes 'discrepancies' in Balili contract". Sun Star Cebu. December 18, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  11. Cupin, Bea. "Gwen Garcia and the Balili property: A tale of two controversies". Rappler. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  12. "Timing of CA decision perfect: Gwen Garcia". Sunstar. 2019-05-12. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  13. Bernal, Buena. "CA clears Cebu's Garcia of grave misconduct in land deal". Rappler. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  14. Sorote, Ryan. "Aquino suspends Cebu Gov Gwen Garcia". Rappler. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  15. Israel, Ador Vincent Mayol, Dale G. "Gwen threatens to sue Agnes". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2019-05-28.
  16. Sorote, Ryan. "Aquino suspends Cebu Gov Gwen Garcia". Rappler. Retrieved 2019-06-05.
  17. Burgonio, T. J. "Padlocking of Garcia's office 'settles the issue,' says Aquino aide". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  18. "LP's Davide beats Garcia for Cebu governor". Rappler. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  19. "Bets and last day of filing COCs". cebudailynews.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2019-05-28.
  20. "Certified List of Candidates (Provincial): Region VII" (PDF). Commission on Election. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  21. Abatayo, Rosalie O. (January 2, 2019). "Garcia sues Davide, Magpale, Capitol execs; asks Ombudsman to suspend Capitol officials". cebudailynews.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  22. Abatayo, Rosalie O. (January 3, 2019). "Davide insists appointment of Rodas and Catan legal and above board". Inquirer.net. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  23. Gravinez, Sheila C. (2019-05-17). "P1.3-B project's fate 'rests with court, not with new gov'". Sunstar. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  24. "Injunction raps filed vs. Cebu guv over building project". www.pna.gov.ph. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  25. Tizon, Micole Gerard. "Gwendolyn Garcia returns as Cebu's governor". Rappler. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  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 2019-05-27.
  28. "Magpale leads outstanding Cebuano awardees | The Freeman". philstar.com. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
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