MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Laguna Vice Governor Ramil Hernandez was sworn in as the new governor of the province on Tuesday, May 27, at the main office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Manila.

He replaces now-former governor Emilio Ramon “ER” Ejercito, who failed to secure a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Supreme Court (SC) within Comelec’s 5-day deadline to stop his removal from office.

Watch this report below.

Hernandez will be assuming office as soon as Comelec submits a writ of execution to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which may be expected within the day or tomorrow.

“Sana po ay magkaroon po ng matahimik na turnover o transition sa ating probinsya (I hope there would be a peaceful turnover or transition in our province),” said Hernandez after his oath-taking.

Ejercito’s supporters have set up barricades at the entrance of the Laguna provincial capitol.

ER Ejercito was disqualified by Comelec on May 21, for overspending during the 2013 midterm elections. He is a nephew of former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.

Ejercito filed an appeal before the SC on May 23 to void his disqualification, but the High Court was unable to issue a TRO within Comelec’s deadline, which lapsed Tuesday.

Hernandez took his oath of office before Comelec Commissioner Elias Yusoph. His wife and two kids, as well as former congressman Edgar San Luis – Ejercito’s opponent in the 2013 polls and the petitioner in Ejercito’s disqualification case –were present in the oathtaking ceremony.

Karen Agapay, the top board member in Laguna during the 2013 polls, will succeed as vice governor. – Rappler.com