‘It is about reminding every public official that leadership is a responsibility, not a privilege to be enjoyed while their constituents are in crisis,’ says lawyer Julito Añora Jr who filed the complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman
CEBU, Philippines – Seven mayors from Cebu’s 5th District who reportedly traveled to London while Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) battered Cebu and neighboring provinces earlier in November are facing administrative and criminal complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman.
The mayors are Aljew Fernando Frasco (Liloan), Avis Ginoo-Monleon (Catmon), Alfredo Arquillano Jr. (San Francisco), Greman Solante (Tudela), Edgar Rama (Poro), Manuel Santiago (Pilar), and Felijur Quiño (Compostela).
Their overseas trip drew public criticism as thousands faced widespread flooding, landslides, and power outages as the country’s deadliest tropical cyclone, to date, battered communities. On Tuesday, November 11, Cebuano lawyer Julito Añora Jr. filed administrative and criminal complaints against the officials at the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas.
The mayors are accused of gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct, dereliction of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
Añora also alleged that their actions may have violated several laws, including the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials, Local Government Code, and the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.
“It is about reminding every public official that leadership is a responsibility, not a privilege to be enjoyed while their constituents are in crisis,” Añora said in a Facebook post.
Travel authority
According to Cebu Provincial Government records, the local officials secured foreign travel Authorities (FTA) from Governor Pamela Baricuatro prior to the typhoon’s landfall. Baricuatro confirmed the travel approvals followed standard procedure and that the provincial government had coordinated early warnings and evacuation efforts with all municipalities.
Baricuatro, as quoted by The Freeman,noted that while traveling is the prerogative of elected officials, they remain accountable to their constituents. “You know, that could have been avoided. Ila sad na prerogative, they are answerable to the people. It is not for me to say, but ilaha sad ‘na,” Baricuatro said.
(You know, that could have been avoided. It’s also their prerogative — they are answerable to the people. It’s not for me to say, but it’s theirs as well.)
Borbon Mayor Nico Dotillos was the only local official who canceled his planned overseas trip, citing “unforeseen circumstances such as the calamity we are facing right now” he said in a letter to the Cebu governor dated October 27.
Under the Local Government Code, governors, mayors, and local council members are required to lead disaster response and relief operations in their areas. Meanwhile, the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act mandates that local officials oversee and manage their disaster risk reduction offices during calamities.
Officials found guilty of neglecting these duties may face penalties ranging from P50,000 to P500,000 and 6 to 12 years imprisonment. In severe cases, they can also be permanently barred from holding public office.
Deadliest tropical cyclone
According to the November 11 situation update from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Tino claimed 232 lives nationwide. Cebu recorded the most fatalities with 150, including 36 in Liloan, where the highest number of deaths in the province was recorded.
The storm made a total of eight landfalls before leaving the Philippine Area of Responsibility on November 6, hitting areas still recovering from a magnitude 6.9 earthquake. Landslides and severe flooding caused multiple deaths, with residents saying the floods were worse than those from Typhoon Odette in 2021. (READ: After earthquake, Cebu contends with a typhoon ‘harsher’ than Odette)
Prior to the typhoon’s landfall, the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) had raised alert levels to red, suspended classes from November 3 to 5, and coordinated evacuation efforts across Cebu, as indicated in official weather forecasts showing the storm’s path affecting Visayas. – Marjuice Destinado/Rappler.com
Marjuice Destinado is a senior political science student at Cebu Normal University (CNU) and an alumna of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2025.