Loot faces travel issue upon return

CEBU, Philippines – Daanbantayan Mayor Ma. Luisa Loot will return from China today with another issue awaiting her.

Capitol spokesperson Rory Jon Sepulveda said yesterday he will look into the legitimacy of Loot's trip after an unsigned letter was sent to Capitol urging Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to check on reports that Loot and her department heads went to China for a week.

Sepulveda said Loot may be held administratively liable if Governor Gwendolyn Garcia did not allow the travel.

Section 96 of the Local Government Code states that provincial, city, municipal, and barangay appointive officials going on official travel shall apply and secure written permission from their respective local chief executives before departure. The reason for travel must be specified in the request and the approving officer may grant to deny the same based on "considerations of public interest, financial capability of the local government unit concerned and urgency of the travel."

In an interview with The FREEMAN, Loot confirmed she went to China last October 2 and is expected to return to the country today. She said she sent her letter for a five-day leave to the governor's office through Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Abraham Donaldo.

"Naa koy gipahatod sa DILG. Leave akong pananghid kay as a government official, we are allowed to leave for five days. Basin wa lang gihatag sa iyang staff… bisan unsaon niya, ako ning personal nga lakaw wa siya'y labot," Loot said.

Donaldo himself confirmed he sent the letter and the application last September 13.

"I received the copy of it, naa sa office ni mayor kay kita man jud ko. It was during sa conference sa Capitol gidalikyat na lang nako. Monday pa gani to," Donaldo told The FREEMAN.

Loot traveled to China with Daanbantayan Councilor Marylou Pepito and Board Member Sun Shimura to attend the China Expo.

Garcia herself acknowledged that Shimura sought permission to travel last week, which she granted immediately.

"So far, no mayors have been denied the request (traveling abroad). Even ako, I ask permission from the Office of the Governor if I will leave the country," she said. (FREEMAN)