Disarray challenges caretaker

CEBU, Philippines -  The “disorder” in the Municipality of Compostela has challenged its caretaker Jerome Gonzales, the provincial director of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Gonzales said he is now trying his best in asking everyone to cooperate because the absence elected municipal officials has caused disorder.

“Ako gi-emphasized nila nga all the more nga magtinabangay ta kay walay mayor,” Gonzales said.

In the past months without local officials enforcing the rules, chaos was observed among market vendors and at parking areas.

Also, the municipality has not hired job order personnel and casuals because of the absence of an annual budget where their salaries and wages could be charged.

Gonzales said that he only has around 50 regular workers manning the operations of their respective offices.

“Lisud gyud kaayo pagpadagan. I am not comfortable nga magdugay ko diha kung makabuot pa lang ta,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales said he could not implement programs and projects.

“Ang mga problema dagku ra kaayo i-compare sa limited powers nga naa nato,” he lamented. “Naluoy ko nila, nagtarung baya sila og boto but wa mauli ang ilang boto. They failed to get what they deserve.”

Gonzales requested, for three times now, the DILG Central Office to replace him as caretaker but he received no response until now.

He explained he has no time for Compostela because he is serving all the local government units in the entire Province of Cebu being the DILG provincial director.

After five months of serving as the caretaker of Compos-tela town, DILG 7 Director Pedro Noval formally relinquished this position last December 1 to Gonzales.

Noval also cited as reason his duties and responsibilities as regional director of the DILG 7.

Noval assumed as caretaker of Compostela after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Central Office ordered the suspension of the proclamation of Mayor-elect Joel Quiño, Vice Mayor-elect Nanette Dangoy and eight councilors-elect.

Defeated mayoralty aspirant Ritchie Wagas filed his petition before the Comelec Manila questioning the alleged irregularities during the May 10 elections in favor of Quiño’s camp. (FREEMAN)