The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has found the mayor of Caraga, Davao Oriental guilty of simple neglect of duty after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) filed a case against her for failure to comply with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to clear roads in her town of illegal structures and constructions.
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said he welcomes the decision of the OMB against Mayor Alicia B. Mori of Caraga, Davao Oriental.
“Walang lugar ang pagpapabaya sa tungkulin, lalong-lalo na ngayon sa panahon ng pandemya. Nawa’y magsilbing babala ang desisyon ng Ombudsman sa iba pang lokal na opisyal na hindi sumusunod sa direktiba ng ating Pangulo,” he said.
Citing the decision dated March 10, 2021, of Ombudsman Samuel Martirez, Año said “the Ombudsman found Mori guilty of simple neglect of duty with the penalty of reprimand pursuant to Section 10 (b) of the Ombudsman Administrative Order No. 17, series of 2003, with a stern warning that a repetition of the same act shall be dealt with more severely.”
The DILG Chief said the Ombudsman found Mori accountable for neglecting her duties as a local chief executive as evidenced by records which show that the local government unit (LGU) of Caraga, Davao Oriental lacked any ordinance on road clearing, one of the major indicators in the DILG compliance assessment.
Under Section 444 (b) 1 (iv) of Republic Act (RA) No. 7160 or the Local Government Code, a municipal mayor shall initiate and propose legislative measures to the Sangguniang Bayan and, from time to time as the situation may require, provide such information and data needed or requested by the Sanggunian in the performance of its legislative function.
According to Año, the Ombudsman’s decision noted that the proposed municipal ordinance prohibiting illegal obstructions was still on its second reading as of November 20, 2019. The OMB received Mori’s position paper on February 18, 2021, without any clear indication that the said ordinance had finally been passed.
Moreover, records also revealed that Mori only conducted road clearing operations in her town around October 2019, as evidenced by photographs submitted.
The OMB further said that in administrative cases, the quantum proof required is substantial evidence, and the evidence of a failed rating of 45 out of 100 points on the LGU Compliance Assessment and proof of delayed compliance with the directives of the DILG Memorandum Circular (MC) 2019-121 clearly speaks for itself.
“Had the respondent been more attentive [to] her duties as the local chief executive, significant results or even full compliance would have been achieved within the period prescribed by the DILG MC,” the Ombudsman decision said.
DILG MC No. 2019-121 enjoins all provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, punong barangays, and heads of local sanggunians to exercise their powers to reclaim public roads from illegal structures and obstructions as directed by the President.
All LGUs were assessed based on the following indicators: (a) enactment of an ordinance on the clearing of roads or banning of illegal obstructions; (b) conduct of inventory of roads; (c) conduct of road clearing operations to remove obstructions; (d) planning and implementation of displacement strategies for those affected; (e) rehabilitation of the declared roads, sidewalks and areas that were restored for public use; and (f) presence of a grievance and feedback mechanism regarding the clearing of road obstructions. (DILG) – jlo
