Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya DILG directors fired over Lando deaths

By Raymund Catindig

TUGUEGARAO CITY – The provincial directors of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya have been relieved from their posts for failing to achieve zero casualty during Typhoon Lando.

In a directive issued on Monday, Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento ordered the relief of Elpidio Duruin of Isabela and Ruperto Maribbay of Nueva Vizcaya.

Four municipal local government operations officers in the two provinces were also placed on floating status.

Marietta Abalos and Catherine Allam-Miranda replaced Duruin and Maribbay, respectively.

The provincial board of Isabela approved a resolution appealing Duruin’s relief.

“The fate of the victims was beyond our control, we did our best to mitigate if not prevent nature’s wrath,” Duruin told local media.

Isabela reported three casualties in Cabagan, Tumauini and San Mariano towns while Nueva Vizcaya had one in Bambang town.

On Oct. 21, Sarmiento ordered the relief of Senior Supt. David Lacdan as Benguet police director after the province suffered 14 casualties due to the typhoon.