BARANGAY Balibago councilor Rodelio “Tony” Mamac said he and fellow councilors were contemplating charges of dereliction of duty against barangay chairman Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin.
Mamac issued the statement on Saturday, October 13, in response to the usurpation of authority charges filed by Lazatin against him and four other councilmen.
“We will file counter charges against him, dereliction of duty because he was absent for 29 consecutive days without official leave. He should explain to the people and constituents in Barangay Balibago,” Mamac said.
Last October 10, Lazatin filed before the Office of the City Prosecutor usurpation of authority against Mamac and four other councilmen including Abel Reyes, Fernando Yambao, Arnold Ibay, and Leonardo Yambao.
This, after the five village councilors on September 10 passed a resolution declaring a temporary vacancy at the office of the village chief. They claimed that Lazatin was incapacitated for 29 straight days because of sickness.
Mamac said President Rodrigo Duterte issued a memorandum directing local chief executives like barangay chairmen to hold office for at least eight hours a day for his duties.
Aside from this, Mamac said that a public official may be charged with dereliction of duty if he failed to report to his office for 15 working days.
Under the Local Government Code, Mamac said this offense is punishable with six months to one year suspension from office.
Mamac said they passed the resolution to give Lazatin a chance to undergo treatment through a medical leave.
“Ang hinihiling namin sa resolution na ang aming punong barangay ay mag-medical leave para ang kanyang karamdaman ay gumaling (What we indicated in the resolution is that our barangay chairman will have a medical leave for his treatment),” he said.
Despite Lazatin’s absences, the five barangay councilors did not file dereliction of duty against their village chief out of respect, according to Mamac.
As a first councilor, Mamac said he should assume Lazatin’s position as barangay chairman.