PB to discuss Loot admin case today

CEBU, Philippines - Even if it is already Holy Week, the Cebu Provincial Board are still set to hold their regular session today.

Provincial Secretary Aniceta Pasaylo and her staff distributed copies of the calendar of business containing at least 40 items for action, to all offices of the PB members last Friday.

Pasaylo however said that next Monday, they cannot hold their session because it falls on a regular non-working holiday which is Araw ng Kagitingan.

Employees of government offices and some private companies will have a long weekend starting on Holy Thursday until Monday.

Among the important items to be discussed by the PB today is the report of the Committee of the Whole regarding the administrative case filed against Daanbantayan Mayor Ma. Luisa Loot.

Bernardito Luche Jr., Virgilio Misa, Alicia Diaz, Juanico Diaz, Emily Alburo and Lelani Monton filed the complaints before the PB for culpable violation of the Constitution, oppression, misconduct in office, gross negligence or dereliction of duty, and/or abuse of authority against Loot.

The PB members will determine today if there are grounds to proceed with the formal investigation.

The complaints stemmed from Loot’s order of closing around 25 cemeteries in her town.

The owners, operators and administrators of the said cemeteries and some concerned sectors led by Rev. Fr. John Jonah Orat, parish priest of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Daanbantayan, aired their complaint to Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

The group claimed that the closure is illegal, immoral and insensitive to the sentiments, beliefs and feelings of the faithful in the municipality.

Acting on the said complaints, Garcia called a meeting with officials of the Daanbanta-yan Roman Catholic Church, Department of Health, Commission on Human Rights and the Cebu Provincial Police Office.

It was during the meeting that complainants manifested their intent to file appropriate action against the officials of Daanbantayan which included the filing of the appropriate administrative complaint before the PB relative to the closure of said cemeteries which have greatly prejudiced their rights and interests. — (FREEMAN)