Board to investigate complaints vs. Loot

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Board will convene as a committee of the whole to investigate the administrative complaints filed by some residents of Daanbantayan against Mayor Ma. Luisa Loot.

Complainants Bernardito Luche, Jr., Virgilio Misa, Alicia Diaz, Juanico Diaz, Emily Alburo and Ma. Lelani Monton accused Loot of violation of the Constitution, oppression, misconduct, gross negligence or dereliction of duty and abuse of authority.

The complaints, which were filed before the PB, stemmed from Loot’s closure of 25 cemeteries in the town last October.

The PB committee on complaints and investigation was supposed to look into the matter. But committee chair Joven Mondigo, Jr. moved that the entire body handle the investigation.

Mondigo represents the fourth district, which includes Daanbantayan, together with Board Member Sun Shimura, Loot’s son.

Mondigo told reporters that it’s not necessarily due to delicadeza that his committee won’t handle the case, saying that the matter involved “intertwined” issues like health, environment, sanitation and even religious.

“I feel that other members of the body would greatly help. Their suggestions and opinions would help in the arriving a deliberative decision,” Mondigo said.

Mondigo pointed out that some PB members are former mayors and they can relate much to the issue.

The PB is yet to decide when to start the investigation. Mondigo said they will just wait for Vice Governor Agnes Magpale to convene the PB as a committee of the whole.

Magpale is still the acting governor until Governor Gwendolyn Garcia returns on Thursday from her trip abroad.

Mondigo added that they will also decide who among them will be the hearing officer.

Loot earlier said the complainants are her political opponents operating illegal cemeteries in the town.

Loot accused her cousin, former PB member and now Capitol consultant Jose Ma. Gastardo, as the one who instigated the complainants to execute affidavits against her.

She said she was just implementing the Philippine Sanitation Code and that her order to close the illegal cemeteries was based on the recommendation of the Department of Health. (FREEMAN)