CEBU CITY – Why were a group of Cebu mayors in London, England during the onslaught of typhoon “Tino”?
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will try to find this out as it will investigate local officials who were in Europe when Cebu was battered by Tino on Nov. 4.
Aldwin Empaces, assistant provincial administrator, on Monday, Nov. 10, confirmed that the DILG central office is investigating the involved local chief executives.
“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,” Empaces said.
Empaces said the Capitol will comply with the instructions and orders issued by DILG.
Travel permits issued by Gov. Pamela Baricuatro last September were among the documents submitted to DILG.
Officials reportedly involved include mayors from the fifth district – 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, and Liloan Mayor Aljew Fernando Frasco.
Provincial Board Member Andrei “Red” Duterte also secured travel authorization.
The DILG has not provided additional details about the probe.
The development came as DILG issued a memorandum suspending all official and unofficial foreign travel for local elected and appointed officials and employees from Nov. 9 to 15.
The directive was meant to ensure the presence of local officials for disaster preparedness and response efforts.
The country has been hit by two successive typhoons – Tino and “Uwan” – leaving significant devastation.