DAVAO CITY — Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año needs to appoint a caretaker in Magpet town, North Cotabato to avoid vacuum of governance while elected officials undergo 14-day mandatory quarantine due to the Coronavirus.
DILG -12 Regional Director Josephine Cabrido-Leysa in a text message to Newsline.ph said “We elevated the issue to our legal department at the Central Office, accordingly they will fast track the reply for now, it (that ) is all we can say.”
The need to appoint a caretaker is within the sole responsibility of Año, as none of the elected town officials can perform their task given the present situation.
On Saturday June 12, Vice mayor Rogelio Marañon took over as Mayor after Mayor after Mayor Florenito Gonzaga failed to report to his office for three days.
Gonzaga is still confined in a local hospital.
But on Monday, June 14, the Municipal Epedemiology and Surveillance Unit or MESU of Magpet town urged Marañon and all municipal councilors to undergo a 14-day quarantine because they were exposed and were among the close contacts of the councilor who was tested positive of Covid-19.
DILG XI Regional Director Alex Roldan, in an interview with Newsline said the municipal administrator cannot take over because his appointment is only good for three (3) days.
“Given the situation, Roldan said, it is only the Secretary who can appoint for a caretaker.”-Newsline.ph
