Malacañang on Monday said that Cebu officials who reportedly flew to Europe while Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) lashed the province should be investigated before any conclusions are drawn.
This was the response of Palace Press Officer Claire Castro when asked whether President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had issued any directive on the matter.
‘First of all, this needs to be assessed. What exactly is their purpose in going to another country, and did it really affect the prompt response for our fellow citizens who experienced the typhoon’s impact?’ she said at a briefing.
She also said, ‘We cannot immediately say that they are at fault; this needs to be studied first.’
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has already initiated a probe into the matter, which was also communicated to the Cebu Provincial Government.
‘[T]his morning, we just received an order from the national office of the DILG to submit all travel orders that were given to all local chief executives for an investigation and other purposes,’ said Aldwin Empaces, assistant provincial administrator, as quoted in a report from Cebu Daily News.
‘As to the next steps, it is up to the central office,’ Empaces said.
‘We will just comply with their instructions and orders,’ he added.
Local officials from Cebu’s fifth district, including representatives from the heavily affected towns of Compostela and Liloan, faced public criticism after reports emerged that they had traveled to London and France during Typhoon Tino’s rampage.
The Capitol previously confirmed that the governor permitted the following officials last September:
Catmon Mayor Avis Ginoo-Monleon
San Francisco Mayor Alfredo Arquillano Jr.
Tudela Mayor Greman Solante
Poro Mayor Edgar G. Rama
Pilar Mayor Manuel Santiago
Compostela Mayor Felijur Quiño
Liloan Mayor Aljew Fernando Frasco
Most of the officials have yet to confirm or deny the reports.