DILG says only 5 of 16 mayors explained absence during ‘Ompong’

Only five of the 16 mayors who were believed to be missing in action when typhoon “Ompong” ravaged several provinces have submitted an explanation regarding their absence, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año said on Wednesday.

The mayors, who were allegedly not in their respective towns when the typhoon hit the country, were given five days–from receipt of cause orders–to explain why they should not be sanctioned for not assisting their constituents when “Ompong” threatened several regions.

But Año said that the remaining 11 local executives have requested for extension, since they are still processing some “papers” to justify their disappearance.

READ: DILG orders 16 local execs to explain absence during ‘Ompong’ onslaught

He said they are following up on the other mayors to submit their explanation.

“Well, due process ito eh [this is due process]. Let’s give them the chance. We will do our part after they have submitted the explanation,” Año said in a press briefing.

He also assured that the DILG will press sanctions against the mayors if the government finds their reason lacking in proper grounds.

He said the mayors, who were the chairpersons of local disaster response units, should not have been gone in order to ensure proper functioning of the response groups in a country often hit by typhoons.

“Despite of the advisories of the memorandum, wala pa rin sila. Ibang usapan na talaga ‘yon (they were still not there. That’s a different matter),” Año said.

Año, however, did not disclose the reasons of the five mayors who submitted their explanation, saying he doesn’t have the records at hand. /jpv

RELATED STORY

Anyare, mayor? 10 local execs to be probed for absence during ‘Ompong’