TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Philippines —The Bohol provincial director of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Thursday that local elected officials who attended the national convention of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD on the same day should not charge their travel expenses to local funds.

DILG provincial director Rustica Mascariñas made the statement after opposition politicians in the province complained that several local officials, who were delegates to the Lakas-Kampi-CMD national convention held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila, were listed as being on official business.

Government officials who are on official business with authority to travel routinely charge their travel expenses to local funds.

Mascariñas said public funds should not be used because "the political gathering was not part of official functions."

Provincial board member Ester Corazon Galbreath confirmed in an interview that most local officials would rather not attend the convention if they were to spend their own money for the trip.

Bohol Lakas-Kampi-CMD stalwarts boasted dominance in local politics, accounting for some 80 percent of all elected officials in the province. At least 38 out of 48 mayors belong to the ruling party.

The party's members also included 13 out of 14 board members, three congressmen, the governor and the vice governor.

Lakas-Kampi Bohol was represented in the convention by 38 mayors, one vice mayor, two provincial board members, the governor, the vice governor and three congressmen.

Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado, Lakas-Kampi regional and provincial chair, sent out invitations to local delegates on Tuesday.