10 local execs told to explain ‘absence’ during Typhoon Rolly

MANILA, Philippines — Some 10 local officials will be ordered to explain their supposed absence while Typhoon Rolly battered their respective jurisdictions, Interior Secretary Año said Monday.

“Sampu lang ang unaccounted natin, so 99 percent po ay nasa kanilang mga lugar upang mag-supervise,” Año said in a televised meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte.

(Only 10 are unaccounted for, so 99 percent of them were in their jurisdictions to supervise.)

“‘Yung sampu na wala ay na-identify na namin at ito ay aking pagpapaliwanagin,” he added.

(The 10 officials were already identified, and they will be asked to explain their absence.)

Año did not publicly identify the erring officials.

Super Typhoon Rolly affected over two million people or more than 372,000 families, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

The hardest-hit areas of Rolly, said to be the most powerful tropical cyclone this year, included the Bicol Region and parts of southern Luzon. [ac]