Manila: The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has called on the public to report "epal" or credit-grabbing local officials through the appropriate legal channels. DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla emphasized that local leaders, including village officials, who misuse government-funded projects for personal benefit could face administrative cases and potential suspension.
According to Philippines News Agency, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla stated in a news release that there are administrative cases that can be filed against such officials, which may result in sanctions ranging from preventive suspension to a full suspension. The DILG clarified that complaints should be filed in accordance with Republic Act (RA) No. 7160, commonly referred to as the Local Government Code of 1991. This act outlines the proper protocol for lodging complaints against local government officials.
Dennis Villase±or, Director of the DILG-National Barangay Operations Office, explained that residents can file complaints against elected village officials, such as punong barangay (village chief), Sangguniang Barangay (village council) members, and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth) chair, within their locality. As stipulated in Section 61 (c) of RA No. 7160, such complaints should be filed before the concerned city council.
Additionally, complaints can also be directed to the Office of the Ombudsman, which holds disciplinary authority over all elective and appointive officials of the government and its subdivisions, instrumentalities, and agencies, including villages, as stated in Section 21 of RA 6770 or the Ombudsman Act.
Villase±or warned against filing complaints in both the city council and the Office of the Ombudsman, as this could lead to the dismissal of the complaint due to forum shopping. He advised that to ensure the complaint progresses, it must be supported by relevant documentation and evidence when presented to the receiving authority.
If substantial evidence of guilt is presented, a single preventive suspension, lasting up to 60 days, can be imposed on the barangay official. Once a decision on the complaint is made, it shall be deemed final and executory.
