Palace: DILG to probe local execs who left country during Uwan

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

The DILG earlier reminded governors, mayors and other local officials to remain in their areas of responsibility and personally oversee disaster response operations. (Pexels photo)

MANILA – Malacañang on Monday said local officials who reportedly left the country at the height of Super Typhoon Uwan’s onslaught will be evaluated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) before being held accountable.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the government will first determine whether their foreign trips affected disaster response efforts in their localities.

“Unang una po, kailangan munang ma-assess kung ano ang kanilang pakay papunta sa ibang bansa at kung ito po ba talaga ay nakaapekto sa mabilisang pag-aksyon sa mga kababayan nating nakaranas ng hagupit ng bagyo (First, we need to assess the purpose of their trip abroad and whether it affected their ability to swiftly respond to their constituents affected by the typhoon),” Castro said in a Palace briefing.

“Hindi po agad-agad nating masasabi na sila ay may sala na. Kailangan po pag-aralan muna (We cannot immediately say they are at fault. This must be carefully studied first),” she added.

Asked if the officials could face sanctions for violating the DILG’s standing order for local executives to stay in their posts during calamities, Castro said the Palace will defer to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

“Titignan po muna natin. Ito naman po ay sa pamumuno ni Secretary Jonvic Remulla. Tignan muna natin at kung paano sila magpapaliwanag na despite na may memorandum sila ay umalis ng bansa (We’ll see first. This will be under the leadership of Secretary Jonvic Remulla. Let’s wait for their explanation on why they left the country despite the DILG memorandum),” the Palace official said.

The DILG earlier reminded governors, mayors and other local officials to remain in their areas of responsibility and personally oversee disaster response operations as Uwan — one of the year’s strongest typhoons — pummeled Luzon on Sunday.