Rules on cases vs town execs soon to get Provincial Board's nod

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu Provincial Government will soon lay down the rules and procedures that will govern the investigation of administrative cases against elected municipal officials of Cebu.

The proposed ordinance for the purpose is now up for the third and final reading by the Provincial Board.

If approved, it shall be first implemented in the investigation into the administrative case filed against Daanbantayan town Mayor Sun Shimura and his mother, Vice Mayor Ma. Lusia Loot for gross negligence and dereliction of duty punishable under the Local Government Code.

A resolution was earlier passed by the board to create this ordinance for lack of clear-cut, definitive and comprehensive set of procedures in administrative investigation of elected public officials.

The said ordinance, sponsored by PB member Joven J. Mondigo, shall clearly guide the Committee on Complaints and Investigation to pursue its mandated tasks to study and investigate all verified complaints against officials thoroughly, effectively and with dispatch.

It enumerated acceptable grounds for filing, from which a municipal official may be disciplined, suspended or removed from office.

Loot and Shimura’s alleged gross negligence and dereliction of duty was found under Section 2-C of the procedures. The complaint against Daanbantayan top officials was filed by Provincial Social Welfare and Development officer Marivic Garces and Bernard Calderon of the General Services Office.

It is indicated that an administrative case may be initiated by any private individual or any government officer or employee.

The ordinance also provided guidelines for notice to answer directed to the respondent or the official against whom the complaint is filed. The form of answer required was specified and consequences for failure to answer were detailed.

Under Section 15, the governor may preventively suspend an elective official who is under formal administrative investigation.

The suspension however may only be imposed after the respondent has answered the complaint or when the evidence of guilt is strong that continuance in office of the respondent may influence the witnesses or may pose a threat to the safety and integrity of the records and other evidences.

Limit on suspension was also stressed which shall not exceed the unexpired term of the respondent or a period of six months for every administrative offense.

Loot and Shimura were accused of not implementing the programs of the provincial government which include special programs like the Early Child Care and Development, Sinanduloy and other programs for children, women, youth and elderly.

Further, it was alleged that due to lack of effort from the charged officials, majority of the barangays failed to organize councils for protection of children. The supplemental feeding program was not implemented leaving sachets of milk spoiling at the municipal social welfare development office. The milk was supposed to be for malnourished children of the town. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/WAB (THE FREEMAN)