SEVERAL Cordillera leaders may face charges for abandoning their post during a crisis.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently endorsed to the Office of the Ombudsman cases against five Northern Luzon mayors who were absent from their posts during the onslaught of Typhoon Ompong in September 2018.
DILG Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya in a statement said based on the findings and recommendations of the DILG Central Office validation team, five mayors, whose explanations were found to be “inadequate and unjustified” and “whose acts probably violated existing laws, rules, and regulations,” will face administrative proceedings before the Office of the Ombudsman.
Those facing cases before the Ombudsman are Mayor Felix Joash Eduarte of Tayum, Abra; Mayor Materno Luspian of Mankayan, Benguet; Mayor Mateo Chiyawan of Natonin, Mt. Province; Mayor Jose Limmayog of Sadanga, Mt. Province with Mayor Brenda Ruma of Rizal, Cagayan over their absence during the onslaught of Typhoon Ompong in their areas in September 2018.
Six others were issued a written admonition after an investigation into their conduct was done by the department.
Mayor Robert Seares Jr. of Dolores, Abra; Mayor Marjorie Salazar of Lasam, Cagayan; Mayor Kim Turingan of Enrile, Cagayan; Mayor Carmelo Villacete of Piat, Cagayan; Mayor Jenalyn Carag of Solana, Cagayan; and Mayor Francisco Mamba Jr. of Tuao, Cagayan, meanwhile, received written admonition from the DILG for the same reason. Malaya added the five mayors, whom he refused to identify yet, gave “inadequate and unjustified” explanation on why they were not on their posts while their areas were being battered by Typhoon Ompong.
The DILG official said among the excuses given by some mayors were attending a training workshop in Baguio, League of Municipalities meeting in Davao, National Economic Development Authority and Department of Agriculture activities in Manila, or even a meeting in Malacañang.
Malaya said Malacañang merely invited the mayors to a meeting but it was not an order or directive and they always have a choice and among that was not to leave their constituents due to the typhoon.