Davao del Norte mayor faces graft complaint

MANILA, Philippines — Mayor Jose Relampagos of Panabo City in Davao del Norte is facing a graft complaint over the alleged illegal appointment of the city budget officer instead of the vice mayor as acting local chief executive while he was out of the country from Sept. 21 to 23.

Vice Mayor Gregorio Dujali filed two separate complaint-affidavits before the Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday against Relampagos and city budget officer Joven Sepe for violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices.

Dujali attached in his affidavits a resolution of the city council authorizing him to file the complaint on its behalf.

He said the designation of Sepe violated Section 46 (a) of the Local Government Code, which states that the vice mayor shall automatically assume the powers, functions and duties of the mayor, except to appoint, suspend or dismiss an employee when the mayor is on leave, abroad or suspended.

“Respondent’s decision to bypass the vice mayor and designate Mr. Sepe as officer-in-charge during his absence created a rupture in the well-defined legal procedures outlined in the Local Government Code,” Dujali’s complaint read. ”This deliberate violation disrupted the established legal framework designed to ensure transparent and lawful governance.”

Dujali said Relampagos failed to submit to the city council any document that would show that the governor approved his leave of absence.

He filed a separate administrative complaint against Relampagos before the Office of the President. The OP should impose the “appropriate administrative penalty” against Relampagos for ”abuse of authority, dereliction of duty and misconduct in office,” Dujali said.