10 mayors under probe for being 'physically absent' during Ompong —DILG

Ten municipal mayors may find themselves in legal trouble for being "physically absent" during the onslaught of Typhoon Ompong, Interior and Local Government officials said Tuesday.

The officials did not identify the mayors to avoid trial by publicity, but said they are from Cagayan Valley and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

"We were surprised with the reports that the Central Office received on absentee mayors whose local government units are part of the critical areas along typhoon Ompong's track," DILG Undersecretary Bernardo Florece said.

The mayors could face suspension or dismissal from service if the reports were proven true, he added.

Based on the DILG’s Operation Listo protocols, local chief executives whose area of constituency fall under the alpha (low risk areas), bravo (medium-risk areas), and charlie (high-risk areas) during a typhoon are mandated to undertake necessary critical preparedness actions as part of disaster preparations.

The DILG, however, did not name the local chief executives under probe for apparent neglect of duty, claiming that the agency does not want to subject the mayors to trial by publicity.

DILG Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya assured the public that the mayors will undergo due process.

"Mayors who would be proven negligent or remiss of doing their duty, especially as chairpersons of their respective Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, would need to provide a written explanation or justification within the prescribed period as to why no disciplinary action shall be taken against them," he said.

"As mandated by the Local Government Code, the presence and support of mayors in their respective areas of jurisdictions is imperative for them to carry out measures to protect their constituents from the harmful effects of disasters and calamities," Malaya added.

The 1991 Local Government Code provides that local government units (LGUs) should “discharge the functions and responsibilities of national agencies and offices devolved to them pursuant to the Local Government Code" and that LGUs should “exercise such other powers and discharge such other functions and responsibilities as are necessary, appropriate, or incidental to efficient and effective provisions of the basic services and facilities." —Llanesca T. Panti/KBK, GMA News