A VILLAGE official in Pagatpat, Cagayan de Oro City wants the city-level Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to make village chief Achilles Jude Babaran take a leave of absence and to designate an official to temporarily take his place.
Babaran was arrested for two counts of rape charges.
Village Councilman Honorio Cervantes said the DILG should interfere to ensure that the delivery of basic services in the village is not hampered.
Cervantes said all of the village’s business transactions are currently being brought to Babaran at the Lumbia City Jail resulting to delays in the delivery of services.
"I appeal to the city DILG nga dili na dapat mag-relax ug dapat mo-intervene na kay daw bi og naay calamity o kagubot, moadto pa lugar sa Lumbia. Kung naay need urgent actions kailangan pa moadto kang Kapitan, (I appeal to the city DILG to intervene in case calamities happen or in cases of emergency, urgent actions could be taken instead of going to the village chief first) " Cervantes added.
"Dako kaayo og epekto kay hilong-hilo nami sa pagdumala kay mura nag duha na among barangay sa Lumbia ug Pagatpat kay didto siya gapirma sa mga papeles and wala siyay gi-authorize dawbi og naay mga emergency," Cervantes said.
Cervantes called Babaran "kapit-tuko" after the latter continues to manage the affairs of the village even while in detention.
"Hangyo lang nako kang kapitan nga mag-leave siya ug i-designate sa mga tawo sa barangay, (I request that the chief [Babaran] would take a leave of absence and designate an official of the village to substitute for him)" Cervantes added.
The village official, a retired police official, clarified the call for DILG to intervene does not constitute politicking but to ensure that residents of the village get the best service possible.
Cervantes said the members of the village council have been supportive of Babaran's administration but to delay the delivery of basic services is another issue.
"Supportive mi bisan opposition kay kung dili pa, dugay ra isa ka bulan ma-ombudsman na si Kapitan tungod sa mga kapalpakan," Cervantes said.
"Imo na tanan rango kay dili man ko interesado ug wala koy ambisyon nga mahimong kapitan ang ako is serbisyo lang. Kung moingon ang katawhan nga diri ra ko kutob, magpasalamat ko nga at least nakasersbisyo ko," Cervantes added.
"Kung may masuko man sa akong pagsulti pasensya kay para mani sa inyo nga paspas ug efficient nga serbisyo," Cervantes added.