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M.I.A. MAYORS

Cagayan gov says mayors' travel during Ompong unauthorized


 

Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba on Wednesday said he did not issue travel order to any mayor days before Typhoon Ompong hit the province, amid reports that some local officials were in Metro Manila when the typhoon lashed northern Luzon.

"Wala naman nag-apply sa akin kasi ng travel order o travel authority, so I didn't even know na lalarga sila," Mamba said in an interview on Balitanghali.

"Dahil kung nag-apply sana sila sa akin ng travel authority, I could have prevented them from doing it (travel)," he added, stressing that there would be no exception even if the invitation came from Malacañang.

At least 10 mayors from Cagayan and the Cordillera Administrative Region are currently under investigation by the Department of the Interior and Local Government for allegedly being absent during Ompong.

Mayors who'll be proven absent could face suspension or dismissal from service.

Mamba, who is planning to conduct his own investigation on the matter, vowed that there will be no cover-up.

"It's so hard na pagtakpan pa natin ito," he said. "We could not be negligent 'pag ganito."

Mamba said days before Ompong made landfall in Cagayan, he notified his officials about the danger it poses to the province.

He emphasized that it is crucial that officials are in their jurisdiction in times of crisis to "provide leadership." —Jamil Santos/KBK, GMA News

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