DAVAO CITY - The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has found Caraga Mayor Alicia Mori in Davao Oriental province guilty of simple neglect of duty after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) filed a case against her for failure to comply with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to clear roads in her town of illegal structures and constructions.
This was confirmed by DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, saying he welcomes the decision of the OMB against Mori. “Walang lugar ang pagpapabaya sa tungkulin lalong-lalo na ngayon sa panahon ng pandemya. Nawa’y magsilbing babala ang desisyon ng Ombudsman sa iba pang lokal na opisyal na hindi sumusunod sa direktiba ng ating Pangulo,” he said.
Año said Ombudsman Samuel Martirez found Mori accountable for neglecting her duties after records showed that the municipal government lacked any ordinance on road clearing, one of the major indicators in the DILG compliance assessment.
He said the Ombudsman’s decision noted that the proposed municipal ordinance prohibiting illegal obstructions was still on its second reading as of November 20, 2019. The OMB received Mori’s position paper only on February 18, 2021, without any clear indication that the ordinance had finally been passed.
Moreover, records also revealed that Mori only conducted road clearing operations in her town on October 2019 based on photographs they submitted.
The OMB said that in administrative cases, the quantum proof required is substantial evidence, and the evidence of a failed rating of 45 out of 100 points on the LGU Compliance Assessment and proof of delayed compliance with the directives of the DILG Memorandum Circular (MC) 2019-121 clearly speaks for itself, according to Año.
“Had the respondent been more attentive of her duties as the local chief executive, significant results or even full compliance would have been achieved within the period prescribed by the DILG MC,” the Ombudsman decision said.
Año said the DILG MC No. 2019-121 enjoins all provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, Barangays chairmen and heads of local Sanggunian to exercise their powers to reclaim public roads from illegal structures and obstructions as directed by Duterte.
“The Ombudsman found Mori guilty of simple neglect of duty with the penalty of reprimand pursuant to Section 10 (b) of the Ombudsman Administrative Order No. 17, Series of 2003 with a stern warning that a repetition of the same act shall be dealt with more severely,” Año said. (Malou Cablinda)
Like Us on Facebook: The Mindanao Examiner
Like Us on Facebook: The Zamboanga Post
Follow Us on Twitter: Mindanao Examine
Mirror Site: Mindanao Examiner Blog
Digital Archives: Mindanao Examiner Digital
Media Rates: Advertising Rates
No comments:
Post a Comment