DILG issues show-cause orders vs 13 local execs for jumping vaccination queue

(REUTERS)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government has issued show-cause orders against 13 local executives for jumping the queue to get vaccinated against COVID-19, DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said on Wednesday. 

“Meron na po tayong 11 mayors, isang governor, isang konsehal (We have 11 mayors, one governor, one councilor),” Densing said in an interview on Teleradyo.

In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Densing shared the eight officials that received show-cause orders. These are:

1. Elanito Peña – Mayor of Minglanilla, Cebu
2. Victoriano Torres – Mayor of Alicia, Bohol
3. Virgilio Mendez – Mayor of San Miguel, Bohol
4. Arturo Piollo II – Mayor of Lila, Bohol
5. Roderick Alacal – Mayor of Lucena City, Quezon
6. Melecio “Boboy” Yap – Mayor of Escalante, Negros Occidental
7. Mamintal Adiong – Governor of Lanao del Sur
8. Jackie Bustamante-Mendoza — City Councilor, District II of Parañaque City

LOOK: The names of eight other local executives who were issued show-cause orders by the DILG for jumping the COVID-19 vaccination queue. 📸: Courtesy of DILG Usec. Epimaco Densing III | @khallareINQ pic.twitter.com/RRc1V2FLjG

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) March 31, 2021

Previously, the DILG asked five mayors to explain why they got inoculated against COVID-19 ahead of the prioritized sector. 

Of the five mayors, Densing said that only one mayor replied to the DILG’s show-cause order—Legazpi City, Albay Mayor Noel Rosal. 

“So nagbigay na po ako ng direktiba sa aking regional office na gumawa ng verification sa kanyang paliwanag,” Densing said of Rosal’s explanation. 

(That’s why I gave a directive to my regional office to verify his explanation.) 

Densing added that the DILG is verifying more reports that other local executives already got vaccinated. 

“Pwede ko sabihin na in counting kasi meron pa kaming nare-receive ngayon na mga reports and pictures na nagpabakuna na opisyales. Ine-evaluate lang namin kasi may kasamang mga kapitan,” he said. 

(We have received reports and pictures of officials getting vaccinated.  We’re just evaluating now because it included barangay captains.)

gsg/MUF