Malacañang said it was looking into reports that several local government officials traveled abroad despite a directive suspending official leaves and foreign trips in the aftermath of Typhoon “Tino” and the onslaught of Super Typhoon “Uwan,” a Palace official said Monday.
“Firstly, we need to assess this: what are their true intentions in going to another country, and whether this (foreign trip) actually affected the swift action for our fellow citizens who experienced the onslaught of the storm,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said.
A document released by Department of the Interior and Local Government showed at least eight local chief executives were issued travel authorities by Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro to attend events in London between late October and early November.
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla also confirmed that Isabela Governor Rodolfo Albano III was in Germany for an agricultural fair when Uwan ravaged Isabela late Sunday.
“I personally spoke with him on Saturday when he was in Germany Saturday morning…I told him Rodito, you’re coming back here, and he said he is going to get the first available flight home, but credit to the Isabela officials they were very prepared,” Remulla said.
“We have sanctioning powers for him. We can recommend disciplinary measures. Actually, I called for a meeting with my undersecretaries in local government and legal to study the implication of these matters because there are many local government officials who are not here now and it is strictly forbidden for them to leave,” he added.
Among those listed as being in the United Kingdom were Pilar Mayor Manuel Santiago, Poro Mayor Edgar Rama, Tudela Mayor Greman Solante, Liloan Mayor Aljew Fernando Frasco, San Francisco Mayor Alfredo Arquillano Jr., Catmon Mayor Avis Ginoo-Monleon, Compostela Mayor Felijur Quiño, and Cebu provincial board member Andrei Duterte.
The DILG list also showed that Borbon Mayor Nico Dotillos canceled his planned trip to London.
Aside from the local officials, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco earlier confirmed she was in London on Nov. 4 to lead the Philippine delegation to the World Travel Market (WTM), the same day that “Tino” made landfall in Cebu. Her husband, Cebu Rep. Duke Frasco, was also part of the delegation.
“Given the severe situation in Cebu, I took a flight the very next day, November 5, to return to the Philippines. When we arrived today, November 6, we proceeded directly to Liloan,” she said in a statement.
The DILG earlier issued a memorandum temporarily disallowing foreign travel and official leaves for local officials to ensure all hands were on deck for disaster response and recovery following Typhoon Tino, which struck parts of the Visayas last week, and in preparation for Super Typhoon Uwan.
Remulla said the travel restriction on local officials of typhoon-hit areas will last until No. 15.
“Those who are applying or about to leave, their travel leaves are cancelled,” he said.
The DILG chief said he has already canceled the foreign travels of some 40 local officials.
