By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Acting upon its probe on government officials who left the country as Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) and Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-Wong) battered several areas across the nation, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said that it will be filing cases against these erring public servants.
In a media interview on Monday, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said that the agency has prepared complaints for abandonment of duty, gross neglect, and insubordination, which will be filed against 24 officials before the Office of the Ombudsman.
“Halos kumpleto na. So, we will file the corresponding cases sa Ombudsman sa mga na-violate blatantly sa mga ginawa nila. Kung sino man kailangan parusahan, paparusahan.”
These officials include seven local chief executives and a board member from Cebu—Mayor Alvis Monleon of Catmon, Mayor Felijur Quiño of Compostela, Mayor Aljew Fernando Frasco of Liloan, Mayor Manuel Santiago of Pilar, Mayor Edgar Rama of Poro, Mayor Alfredo Arquillano Jr. of San Francisco, Mayor Greman Solante of Tudela, and board member Andrei Duterte—who embarked on a travel to the United Kingdom as Typhoon Tino swept across Visayas.
Isabela Governor Rodolfo Albano III was also cited for his travel to Germany as Super Typhoon Uwan brought torrential rains and strong winds to Isabela on Nov. 9.
Earlier, the DILG had imposed a travel suspension order on government officials to facilitate prompt disaster response and intervention as these successive storms brought devastation to their respective constituents and locales.
Remulla’s statement echoes the Palace’s call for these execs who engaged in foreign travels to be held liable for their actions.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a previous briefing, “Dapat ang trabaho ay para sa taumbayan kasi ang taumbayan umaasa sa gobyerno lalo na sa ganitong klaseng sitwasyon at kondisyon. Hindi puwedeng chill-chill lang parati dahil kailangan trabaho, trabaho—hindi bakasyon.”
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