Governor of Abra

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Governor of Abra
Gobernador ng Lalawigan ng Abra (Filipino)
Takit Bersamin.jpg
Incumbent
Takit Bersamin
since June 30, 2025
Style The Honorable
Seat Abra Provincial Capitol
Term length 3 years
Inaugural holder Juan G. Villamor
Formation1902

The governor of Abra (Filipino : Punong lalawigan ng Abra) is the chief executive of the Philippine province of Abra, a landlocked province in the Cordillera Administrative Region of the Philippines. The position has evolved from a colonial military appointment to a democratically elected office.

Contents

Historical Background

The province of Abra was established as a comandancia politico-militar in 1846 during the Spanish colonial period. It was administered by a military governor appointed by the Spanish colonial government. [1] These governors, typically Spanish officers, exercised both civil and military authority, particularly in efforts to pacify local indigenous groups, collect tribute, and enforce colonial laws. The first capital of the province was the town of Bucay. Among the notable Spanish governors during this period were Don Ramon Tajonera y Marzal and Don Esteban de Peñarrubia. [2]

Following the Spanish-American War in 1898, the Philippines came under American administration. In 1901, Colonel William Bowen was appointed as the military governor of Abra by the American colonial government. [3] The following year, in 1902, civil government was established in the province, and Juan G. Villamor, a lawyer and journalist, became the first Filipino civil governor. Villamor would later serve as a senator of the Philippines. [4]

In 1905, under Act No. 1306 of the Philippine Commission, Abra was annexed to the neighboring province of Ilocos Sur as part of an administrative reorganization. [5] This status lasted until 1917, when Abra was reconstituted as a separate province through Act No. 2683.

With the inauguration of the Republic of the Philippines in 1946, the governorship of Abra became an elective position. Under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the governor is elected by popular vote and serves a term of three years, with a maximum of three consecutive terms.

Current Structure

The governor is elected by popular vote and serves a term of three years, with a maximum of three consecutive terms. The governor holds office at the Abra Provincial Capitol located in Bangued, the provincial capital. The official style of address is "The Honorable."

The governor is the highest-ranking official in the provincial government. The office exercises executive authority over all provincial departments and programs, ensures the enforcement of laws and ordinances, prepares the provincial budget, and represents the province in regional and national affairs. The governor also plays a key role in disaster response, peace and order, and development planning within the jurisdiction of the province.

As of June 30, 2022, the duly elected governor of Abra is Dominic B. Valera. However, on December 9, 2024, Atty. Russell A. Bragas assumed the position of acting governor following the preventive suspension of Governor Valera due to administrative charges. [6] Bragas had previously served as acting vice governor and took office as acting governor pursuant to an order from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

List of Governors

Below is a chronological list of Abra’s civil governors during the American period and the post-independence era:

No.ImageGovernor [7] TermRef
1 Juan Villamor, Governor of Abra (Portrait, 1905).jpg Don Juan G. Villamor 1902–1904
2 J. Ortega, Governor of La Union (Portrait, 1905).jpg Don Joaquin J. Ortega 1904–1914
3Don Rosalio G. Eduarte1914–1916
4 Julio Borbon y Villamor.jpg Don Julio V. Borbon1916–1922Virgilio
5 Rep. Virgilio V. Valera (2nd Congress).jpg Don Virgilio V. Valera1922–1925
6 Eustaquio Purugganan y Paredes.jpg Don Eustaquio P. Purugganan, MD1925–1930
7 Rep. Virgilio V. Valera (2nd Congress).jpg Don Virgilio V. Valera1930–1936
8Don Bienvenido N. Valera1936–1939
9 Eustaquio Purugganan y Paredes.jpg Don Eustaquio P. Purugganan, MD1939–1941
10Atty. Bernardo V. Bayquen1941–1944
11Atty. Zacarias A. Crispin1944–1946
12Atty. Juan C. Brillantes1946–1947
13Luis F. Bersamin, MD1947–1951
14 Lucas Peralta Paredes.jpg Engr. Lucas P. Paredes1951–1953
-Vene B. Pe Benito, DVM1953
15Aty. Ernesto P. Parel1953–1954
16Atty. Jose L. Valera1954–1963
17 Carmelo Barbero.jpg Carmelo Z. Barbero1963–1965
18Petronilo V. Seares, MD1965–1971
19Gabino V. Balbin1971–1977
20Arturo V. Barbero1977–1984
21Andres B. Bernos1984–1986
22Atty. Vicente Ysidro P. Valera1986–1987
-Buenaventura V. Buenafe1987
(22)Atty. Vicente Ysidro P. Valera1988–1998
-Constante B. Culangen, MD1998
23Atty. Maria Zita C. Claustro-Valera1998–2001
(22)Atty. Vicente Ysidro P. Valera2001–2007
24 Takit Bersamin.jpg Eustaquio P. Bersamin 2007–2016
25 Governor Maria Jocelyn Bernos.png Maria Jocelyn A. Valera-Bernos 2016–2022 [8]
26 Abra Governor Dominic Valera (cropped).jpg Dominic B. Valera 2022–2024 [a] [9] [10]
-Atty. Russell A. Bragas2024-2025
(24) Takit Bersamin.jpg Eustaquio P. Bersamin 2025-present [11]

Notes

  1. Suspended since December 9, 2024

References

  1. https://abra.gov.ph/about/history/
  2. https://thecordillerareview.upb.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/5-TCR-I-1-Rovillos-81-104.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  3. http://www.efilarchives.org/pdf/gumil/guyod_150.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  4. https://abramazing.com/military-and-elected-officials-of-abra/
  5. https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/28/17458
  6. https://tribune.net.ph/2024/12/09/abra-governor-suspended-vice-governor-face-preventive-suspension
  7. "Governors of Abra". Province of Abra. Province of Abra. Archived from the original on May 2, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  8. "ABRA | Provincial Results | Eleksyon2016 | Results -". GMA News Online. Archived from the original on March 12, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  9. "Halalan 2022 ABRA, CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION Election Results". ABS-CBN News . May 13, 2022. Archived from the original on March 12, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  10. Dumlao, Artemio (December 10, 2024). "Palace suspends Abra Governor for 60 days". The Philippine Star. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  11. Quitasol, Kimberlie (May 13, 2025). "Bernos-Bersamin alliance topples Valera dynasty in Abra". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 14, 2025.