DILG says 25 local gov’t officials left Philippines during typhoons

A TOTAL of 25 local government unit (LGU) officials departed the country in recent weeks amid catastrophic typhoons despite lacking proper travel approvals, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Wednesday.

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Quoting the department, Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro told reporters over Viber that 18 officials left despite the cancellation of their travel authority, while seven others traveled abroad without a foreign travel authority.

Interior Secretary Juanito Victor C. Remulla on Wednesday said over DZMM TeleRadyo that the unnamed local officials may face charges of gross negligence, gross insubordination and abandonment of post for leaving the country despite a travel ban imposed before Typhoons Kalmaegi (Local name: Tino) and Fung-wong (Uwan) hit in the last two weeks.

Mr. Remulla said that officials should have stayed in their areas to lead the disaster response.

“If you have a conscience and care about your constituents, you should be here,” he said in Filipino.

Ms. Castro said Malacañang is leaving the matter entirely to the DILG’s discretion, noting that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. expects full accountability from local leaders during calamities.