rufino c. otero was elected as the first provincial governor and democrito o. plaza the first congressman in the election of november 1969. the term of office of congressman democrito o. plaza would have continued until december 1973 had it not for the proclamation of martial law on september 21, 1972, which in effect abolished the congress. when the interim batasang pambansa was convened in 1978 after almost a decade of absence under the martial law, edelmiro amante represented the province in the national assembly.