THE Provincial Board has not received yet any complaint about the alleged absences committed by some officials of the municipal government of Moises Padilla.
Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer on Monday, May 31, 2021, said if there is such a situation in the said locality, it should be the Department of Interior and Local Government that should act on the matter or the complainant should file its complaint with the agency.
"So far, we have not received any complaint on the matter," Ferrer said.
Reports said Vice Mayor Ian Villaflor and some Sangguniang Bayan (SB) members have been absent in the past several sessions of the Moises Padilla SB. Their absences reportedly resulted in the lack of quorum that resulted in not holding the SB sessions.
"The local officials have the privilege to avail official leave but it has limits," Ferrer said.
Villaflor's absence in the town allegedly started after the La Carlota City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 63 released an arrest warrant for 14 people who were allegedly involved in the murder of Moises Padilla Councilor Jolomar Hilario in March 2019.
Based on a copy of the warrant, which was forwarded to members of the media, among the individuals identified in the warrant are incumbent Moises Padilla Vice Mayor Adrian Villaflor and former Isabela town mayor Joselito Malabor.
Other individuals named in the warrant are Vincent Garcia, Felisa Flores-Villaflor, Jonathan Villaflor, Jose Morito Flores, Jimmie Don Plaza, Amy Locsin, Armando Cordero, Roel Bero Sarillo, Jason Ledio Abria, Raymond Estorca Gabitanan, Richard Gelonga Sarillo Jr. and Joemer Salgado Pablo.
The arrest warrants were issued by Judge Cyclamen Jison Fernandez, Presiding Judge of La Carlota City RTC Branch 63, dated February 15, 2021. The said murder cases are not bailable.
Villaflor could not be reached for comment, as of Monday.