Reasons given by four other mayors for re-validation
(Eagle News)—Five mayors who were not in their respective areas of jurisdiction during the onslaught of Typhoon “Ompong” may face administrative sanctions after the reasons they gave for their absence were found to have been “inadequate and unjustified.”
“Despite having knowledge of the impending typhoon and the DILG advisory, said mayors were not in their post during the typhoon. Such act on their part may be considered as dereliction of duty, negligence, or other administrative offense. We have referred their case to the Office of the Ombudsman,” Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson of the Department of the Interior and Local Government said.
According to Malaya, some of the reasons that were not accepted were the following:
- attended a training workshop in Baguio
- Attended an LMP meeting in Davao
- attended National Economic and Development Authority and Department of Agriculture activities in Manila
- attended a meeting in Malacañang
“They should have prioritized the welfare of their constituents. That’s the reason why we cannot accept such an explanation,” Malaya said.
Malaya said the explanation of one mayor, however, was accepted.
While the mayor, whom Malaya did not name, attended a “Sandiganbayan court hearing in Quezon City on September 13, 2018, an equally urgent matter, he nevertheless managed to return immediately to his area of responsibility” in time for the convening of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, Malaya said.
According to Malaya, six mayors would receive a written admonition from DILG chief Eduardo Año for “disregarding the directives requiring their physical presence during calamities and for their failure to personally supervise the evacuation, rescue and relief operations of their constituents on September 14, 15, and 16, 2018.”
The explanations of four other mayors, on the other hand, were sent to the regional office for re-validation.
According to Malaya, “unless they can prove that it is legally and physically impossible to perform their duty during that time, these four mayors may also be found liable.”
“The DILG wishes to remind all local chief executives and all other local elective officials that they are considered ‘on-call’ any time of the day. That is the essence of public service,” Malaya said.
“This is the reason why they do not have fixed working hours because doing so would limit their service to the public to the prejudice of their constituents,” he added.
In September last year, the DILG asked 16 mayors from Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera Administrative Region to explain why they were not present in their areas of jurisdiction when “Ompong” struck.
“Ompong” left several dead and others missing, mostly in Benguet.
