DILG Files Charges Against 2 Mayors For Failure To Clear Roads

DILG – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently filed charges against two mayors who allegedly failed to clear their roads.

According to GMA News, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said that the two mayors who were administratively charged for gross neglect of duty and grave misconduct before the Ombudsman were Benido Balao-as, mayor of Boliney, Abra; and Renato Cabael, mayor of Motiong, Samar.

“We meant it when we said that cases will be filed against negligent local executives,”

Año added that the validating team in Motiong from the agency found out that the nine roads have illegally-parked vehicles, barangay structures, store encroachments, shanties, garbage dumps, canal obstructions, plants and other construction materials, which are counted as obstructions.

In Boliney town, on the other hand, failed to show an inventory of the provincial, municipal and barangay roads in the town. The secretary added that the identified road was found to have extended canopies as obstructions.

“The municipalities of Motiong and Boliney obtained a total score of not more than 50 points in the indicators set by the DILG. Such score translated to their glaring failure to follow the rule of law that public streets are for public use,”

Año added that the two towns also failed to make any rehabilitation and sustainability plans. Both did not even set up a grievance and feedback mechanism as clearing of road obstructions, Año added.

As per the report, Año called on the Office of the Ombudsman to immediately act on the cases filed by the agenct to prove to the public that the government is serious when it ordered the clearing of roads months ago.

The Interior chief also warned that the agency will file more cases against those mayors who will fail to comply with the order.