COMPLAINTS against “epal” (attention-seeking) local officials down to the barangay level constitute administrative cases that may result in preventive suspension and must be filed in the proper forum, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla said.
In a statement, Remulla urged the public to step forward and file complaints against local officials who use government-funded projects for self-promotion or personal aggrandizement.
“Administrative cases may be filed against them, and they may be suspended,” Remulla said.
He said the complaints against the so-called “epal” or self-glorifying elected government officials and appointed barangay leaders may be sued in accordance with Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991 which prescribes the procedures for administrative cases involving local government officials.
DILG national barangay operations director, Dennis Villaseñor explained that complaints against elected barangay officials—punong barangays, members of the sangguniang barangay, and sangguniang kabataan chairpersons—should be filed with the appropriate municipal or city councils.
Section 61(c) of the Local Government Code provides that complaints against elective barangay officials should be filed before the city or municipal council concerned, whose decision would be final and executory.
The law also allows the imposition of a single preventive suspension of up to 60 days if the evidence warrants.
Villaseñor said complaints may also be filed with the Office of the Ombudsman which has disciplinary authority over all elective and appointive government officials under Republic Act No. 6770.
However, he warned against filing the same complaint in more than one forum, as this may result in its dismissal for forum shopping.
Villaseñor added that complaints must be supported by a formal affidavit and substantial evidence for the case to prosper.
