Robredo warns local execs on widespread absenteeism

ANGELES CITY – Governors, mayors and other elected officials should report to their offices, Interior and Local Governments Secretary Jesse Robredo warned amid reports of widespread absenteeism among local executives.

Robredo issued the warning in a directive coursed through the regional and provincial offices of the Department of the Interior and Local Governments, which provided copies to local officials.

The directive covered all elective officials from governors to barangay officials.

“A local government official could be suspended or removed from office for dishonesty, oppression, misconduct in office, gross negligence or dereliction of duty, or unauthorized absence for 15 consecutive working days,” he said, citing Section 60 of the Local Government Code.

He said he issued the directive amid reports of “chronic absenteeism and negligence of local government officials to the prejudice of public service.”

“Some local government officials are either frequently absent or holding office elsewhere, other than their official places of assignment,” he said.

The directive said that in the case of Sanggunian members, “disorderly behavior and absences for four consecutive sessions without justifiable cause,” could subject them to censure, reprimand, exclusion from the session, suspension for not more than 60 days or expulsion.

“Pending the investigation of a complaint on absenteeism, negligence or dereliction of duty, preventive suspension may be imposed by the following officials: the President, if the respondent is an elective official of a province, a highly urbanized or an independent component city; the governor, if the respondent is an elective official of a component city or municipality; or the mayor, if the respondent is an elective official of the barangay,” the directive stated.

Robredo told all local government officials to hold office at “established seats of government – the provincial capitol, city hall or municipal hall.”

He said local government officials “should render full-time service and devote time and attention to the performance of their official duties and should refrain from practicing professions, or engaging in any occupation other than the exercise of their functions.”

“They should advance the primacy of public interest,” he added.