BY DAVE SUAN ALBARADO
A heated political dispute has erupted between the outgoing and incoming administrations of Jagna, Bohol, with accusations of deliberate delays in the local government transition process and alleged budget manipulations creating tensions just weeks before the scheduled handover of power.
Mayor-elect Mark Louie Monungolh publicly accused the current administration of intentionally stalling the transition, blasting in a social media post:
“Kana inyong style nga e delay ang transition dili ang among transition team ang mag suffer ana kundi ang mga Jagnaanon! Humana ang eleksyon power tripping ghapon? Mga abugado na nako ang mo atbang ninyo” (Your style of delaying the transition won’t make our transition team suffer, but the people of Jagna! The election is over, still power tripping? I now have lawyers to face you).
The controversy stems from correspondence between the two camps regarding the formal turnover process.
On May 21, 2025, Monungolh sent a detailed letter to outgoing Mayor Joseph Rañola requesting comprehensive documentation for the transition, including government asset inventories, financial records, and personnel profiles, citing compliance with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular No. 2022-029.
“I would like to express my sincere intent to promote a smooth, orderly, and transparent transition in the best interest of the people of Jagna,” Monungolh wrote in his formal request. “This includes ensuring institutional continuity, safeguarding government resources, and maintaining the integrity of local governance during the transition period.”
The mayor-elect requested that all necessary documents be made available within 12 calendar days and proposed coordination activities to begin on May 22, 2025.
He also requested a fellowship meeting on June 2, 2025, at his residence.
The Local Governance Transition Team, led by Chairperson Maria Debora R. Oclarit, responded on May 29, 2025, setting the turnover ceremony for June 20, 2025, ten days before Monungolh’s official assumption of office on June 30, 2025.
The team congratulated Monungolh on his “recent election victory” and assured him of their commitment to a “collaborative and efficient transition.”
“The outgoing administration is committed to complying with DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2025-016, ensuring a transparent and accountable handover of responsibilities,” Oclarit said in the official response. “This date provides sufficient time for comprehensive preparation and review of all necessary documentation, safeguarding accuracy and preventing any compromise to the municipality’s operations.”
However, tensions escalated when Monungolh publicly criticized what he perceived as delays, prompting a strongly-worded official statement from the Rañola administration.
“We have received statements that accuse the current administration of intentionally delaying the transition process, along with words that question our motives and integrity,” the administration said in their official response posted on Facebook.
“We did not delay the transition process. In fact, the current administration is actively preparing and continuing the requirements of the Local Governance Transition, in accordance with the issued DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2025-016.”
The current administration further defended their actions, saying: “We are not ‘power tripping.’ Our actions are carried out within the strong mandate until June 30, 2025. We hold onto work, not power. And despite the bitterness of politics, we chose to remain professional and responsible servants of the people.”
The statement bared their commitment to a transparent process: “Our actions are within the law, subject to audit, and ready to be presented in court if necessary. In government, the law is the lowest and highest standard.”
The dispute has generated fears about potential disruptions to municipal services during the critical transition period.
Both sides have copies of correspondence distributed to various municipal offices and departments, including the Municipal Local Government Operations Officer (MLGOO), Municipal Treasurer’s Office (MTO), and Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO).
The transition team’s response noted that while the Memorandum Circular does not specify a date, their schedule allows for the required ten-day lead time before the assumption of office, and that Executive Order No. 011-2025 outlines the Local Government Transition Team’s structure and responsibilities.
“Our intention is clear: so that the people of Jagna will not suffer. That’s why we made the transition process organized, documented, and responsible, so that the next administration can start working cleanly and without obstacles,” the Rañola administration said.
Both camps have indicated they have legal counsel involved, suggesting the dispute could potentially escalate beyond political rhetoric if not resolved through dialogue.
As of press time, the scheduled June 20 turnover ceremony remains in place, though the public nature of the dispute has created uncertainty about whether the transition will proceed smoothly as planned.
JAGNA BUDGET 2026
The political dispute between outgoing and incoming administrations in Jagna has intensified with new questions raised over the timing of budget preparations for 2026, adding another layer of controversy to an already contentious government transition.
Mayor-elect Mark Louie Monungolh posted on social media June 2, 2025 questioning the current administration’s budget activities: “Ngano ipamugos man gyud nga ikaw mogama ug budget for 2026? Para kintahay dili madayon among mga plataporma unya moingon dayon wala me nabuhat?” (Why force yourself to prepare the budget for 2026? So that our platforms won’t continue and then you’ll say we didn’t accomplish anything?)
The comment, posted with laughing emojis, suggests Monungolh believes the outgoing administration is deliberately preparing the 2026 budget to constrain his incoming government’s policy agenda.
In response, the current Jagna municipal administration under outgoing Mayor Joseph Rañola issued a detailed official statement defending their budget preparation activities as legally mandated obligations rather than political maneuvering.
“The current administration has a strong mandate until June 30, 2025, and within this period, the Local Chief Executive (LCE) or Mayor is obligated to prepare and submit the Executive Budget for 2026, based on Section 318 of the Local Government Code (RA 7160),” the administration posted on Facebook their rebuttal. “This responsibility is not optional, but a legal obligation that signifies continued service to the people.”
The Rañola administration announced that the official Budget Call will be conducted on June 16, 2025, in accordance with the schedule outlined in the “Budget Operations Manual for Local Government Units, 2023 Edition,” issued by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
“The said guide stipulates that the Budget Call should be issued within the month of June to begin the budget preparation cycle for the following year,” the statement explained.
According to Rañola’s team, the Budget Call serves as a formal directive for all LGU departments and sectors to gather inputs and proposals for the 2026 budget, ensure all programs are based on data and validated needs, and avoid funding delays that could harm public services.
The incumbent administration noted that budget preparation does not restrict the incoming mayor’s authority: “The preparation of the Executive Budget does not mean we are cutting the power of the next administration. The new Mayor has the strong right to review, realign, or change the budget that will be passed, through the legal process and together with the Sangguniang Bayan.”
“Therefore, there is no basis for concern that this is an activity to prevent your platform,” the statement continued, directly addressing Monungolh’s allegation.
The current administration characterized their June 16 Budget Call as “a normal, legal, and technical action that follows the proper schedule mandated by the Budget Operations Manual.”
“This is not forcing. This is service for the people,” they said. “Public service should be based on principles, not accusations. And strong institutions continue even when leadership changes.”
The budget controversy represents the latest escalation in tensions between the two camps, following earlier disputes over the pace of the government transition process. Previous exchanges included accusations of deliberate delays and “power tripping” by both sides.
Under the Local Government Code, mayors are indeed required to prepare annual budgets, but incoming administrations retain sufficient authority to modify proposed budgets through the legislative process with their respective councils.
The Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) will ultimately play a crucial role in reviewing and approving any budget proposals, regardless of which administration prepares the initial documents.
MIDNIGHT DEALS
Eearlier, Mayor-elect Mark Louie Monungolh’s team also issued a statement declaring it would not honor any contracts, deals or agreements made by the outgoing administration during the campaign period and transition, citing issues over transparency and accountability.
“The team believes that governance must be grounded on transparency, accountability, and respect for democratic and legal processes. No ‘sub-rosa’ deals,” Monungolh’s Team Priority said in an official statement, using the Latin term for “secret arrangements”.
The incoming administration warned that contracts made during “critical periods without proper consultation, transparency, or public scrutiny are highly suspect to be prioritizing political interests over the welfare of our constituents.”
Outgoing Mayor Joseph Rañola’s administration pushed back against the allegations in a detailed response, defending the legality of all official acts undertaken during their term.
“Any and all contracts, agreements, or official acts executed during our term—regardless of timing—were carried out in accordance with existing laws, with proper documentation, and always with the intent to serve the public good,” Rañola’s administration responded.
The outgoing administration stressed that “no ‘midnight deals’ were entered into” and that every transaction “underwent proper legal vetting, was duly recorded, and remains subject to audit and review.”
Monungolh’s team said they committed to subjecting any questionable agreements to “full scrutiny and legal review” and threatened to void or challenge deals “found to be irregular, anomalous, or against the public interest” in court.
The incoming mayor’s statement concluded with a campaign promise: “We will build a government that puts people always first, integrity, driven by public service, and accountability at every step.”
Rañola’s administration cautioned against “blanket declarations that preempt due process or imply impropriety without evidence,” warning this could “cause unnecessary uncertainty among stakeholders” and “disrupt continuity of services.”
The outgoing mayor’s team said they remained “confident that transparency and legality will stand up to scrutiny” while urging that review processes be “grounded in fact, guided by law, and conducted with prudence.”
The Local Government Code provides frameworks for reviewing previous administrations’ acts, though the process can create administrative uncertainty and delay implementation of programs and services.