Committee for gripes vs. municipal officials formed

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has created a committee to handle complaints against elected officials, which some provincial board members feel, is encroaching on their powers and functions under the Local Government Code.

Garcia issued the Executive Order 15 last week creating the committee to address numerous complaints brought to her office against alleged abuses in office of elected officials in the different municipalities and component cities in the province.

The governor anchored her executive order on the provisions of the Local Government Code, which gives her the power to ensure that all executive officials and employees of the province and its components cities and municipalities are faithfully discharged within its scope and prescribed powers.

Garcia quoted Section 29, Section 465 (b) (1) and (2) of the Local Government Code, which states that, " the province, through the governor, shall ensure that every component city and municipality within its territorial jurisdiction acts within the scope of its prescribed powers and functions."

The committee is mandated to receive complaints against all elected provincial officials, component city, municipal and barangay officials of the province and conduct investigations on the veracity of the said complaints, assist the complainants in the preparation and filing and prosecution of the criminal and or administrative complaints filed.

Garcia has named Capitol consultant Rory Sepulveda as chairman of the committee with acting provincial attorney Marino Martinquilla, provincial administrator Eduardo Habin, provincial treasurer Roy Salubre, provincial accountant Marieto Ypil and consultants Pablo John Garcia, Manolette Dinsay and Cesar Veloso as members.

But Lani Abarquez, chief of staff of the Office of Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez, said the PB members felt they had been stripped off their function to mediate and resolve over complaints raised against elected officials.

Earlier this year, the PB found out that there were certain contracts entered into by Garcia which were not submitted to them for review, which accordingly destroyed the check and balance nature of governance.

The matter is now currently raised to the Courts and the Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas.

Abarquez, who was present during the caucus, said they are scheduling the executive order for discussion in next week's session.

PB member Agnes Magpale said considering that the composition of the committee are all under the executive department, this may be prone to abuse of partisan politics.

She said respondents from the opposition may think twice about lodging the complaint to the said committee.

A PB member who refused to be identified said the executive order seemed to be "tailor-made" against Bogo town, whose officials are currently against Garcia's administration.

Former Congressman Celestino Martinez III, husband of Rep. Clavel Asas-Martinez said the suspicion of some PB members cannot be discounted.

Considering that such power is clearly stipulated as a function under the PB, Martinez asked why Garcia revised the law. But Martinez said that they will equip themselves legally against Garcia's latest maneuvers.