In Compostela, DILG looking into execs' backwages

CEBU, Philippines - The legal department of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is reportedly considering of releasing the backwages of the Compostela officials who have just been sworn into office.

The officials were elected in 2010 and their backwages would amount to P6.9 million.

Lawyer Danilo Almendas, former head of the legal department of DILG-7, told The FREEMAN that the agency's legal department is looking into the matter although he refused to give details of the same.

The Compostela Municipal Council has approved an ordinance allocating funds for the officials' backwages and Councilor Tessa Cang, chairperson of the committee on finance, said the ordinance underwent thorough deliberation both in her committee and the local finance committee.

Compostela Mayor Joel Quiño backed Cang's statement.

Cang downplayed the accusation of former town mayor Ritchie Wagas that the present town Council pocketed taxpayers' money when it decided to allocate funds for backwages.

Wagas alleged that Quiño, Cang and Vice Mayor Nanette Dangoy, among others, worked together to appropriate P6.9 million for their back wages.

Wagas believes that since the earlier proclamation of the officials has been annulled and they were able to assume office only recently, they should not be granted backwages.

The FREEMAN learned that Quiño's camp has a pending petition before the Supreme Court relating to the legality of the annulment of their proclamation as town officials in 2010.

The officials assumed office only in 2012 following a lengthy court battle, almost two years since the 2010 national and local polls. They were eventually able to assume office following a favorable ruling from the Commission on Elections En Banc.

Quiño said Wagas' accusations will not affect his plans of addressing the problems in the town. He said his kind of leadership is based on transparency, which seeks to address the actual needs of Compostela residents. — (FREEMAN)