Tuguegarao Mayor To Explain His Absence During Ulysses Onslaught
TUGUEGARAO MAYOR- Mayor Jefferson Soriano under fire after leaving out of town for vacation during the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses.
Netizens and typhoon-hit residents hit a big question “Nasaan si Mayor?” This is the question of Tuguegarao residents as they call for help due to the massive flooding in the city caused by Typhoon Ulysses.
Mayor Jefferson Soriano received criticism when some netizens shared a screenshot of a photo posted by his daughter Bea Soriano-Dee on social media where she was with his father who was celebrating her birthday in Batangas.
In an interview with GMA-7’s 24 Oras, Soriano explained that he asked Governor Manuel Mamba for permission to leave Tuguegarao. He also allegedly tried to return on November 12, but the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) was closed.
“Umalis po ako rito last Sunday afternoon. I tried coming back on the 12th nung nag-umpisa na po ang ulan pero sarado na po ang Bocaue – ang NLEX. So ‘yung regional director was giving me an update up to nagbukas po ng hapon ng 12. Hindi na po ako maka-travel sa gabi so I left Manila at about 3 o’clock in the morning. And I arrived here at Tuguegarao about 4 or 5 o’clock,” he said.
READ ALSO: Aerial Footage of Tuguegarao Submerged in Flood Due to Ulysses (Video)
Meanwhile, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said that the Tuguegarao Mayor needs to explain why he leaves his constituents amid the ravage made by a series of typhoon.
“Kung sinasabi niyang nagpaalam siya, kailan ‘yun? Why would he leave? Kasi ‘di ba ‘yung bagyo tumama siya sa Bicol November 11. Tapos tumama ng Metro Manila November 12. Meron nang storm signals nung November 10,” DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said.
He said, under Oplan Listo, mayors must be alerted 48 hours before the typhoon’s landfall. It is said that the birthday celebration is not justifiable for the mayor to leave his constituency in the face of disaster.
READ ALSO: Food Business Owner Offers Free Warm Meals to Residents of Tuguegarao
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