7 Cebu Mayors, Provincial Board Member’s Foreign Travel Assailed As Typhoon Tino Wreaks Havoc

CEBU – While northern Cebu continues to grapple with the devastation left by Typhoon Tino, several mayors and a provincial board member from the 5th District of Cebu were reported to have traveled abroad for personal vacations in Europe.

A document obtained by The Freeman from the Cebu provincial government revealed that, earlier this month, eight local officials had filed for Foreign Travel Authority (FTA), which Governor Pamela Baricuatro had signed.

Those who filed for leave were Catmon Mayor Avis Ginoo-Monleon, San Francisco Mayor Alfredo Arquillano Jr., Tudela Mayor Greman Solante, Poro Mayor Edgar Rama, Pilar Mayor Manuel Santiago, Compostela Mayor Felijur Quiño, Liloan Mayor Aljew Fernando Frasco, and Board Member Andrei “Red” Duterte.

The travel requests, the Capitol said, were granted by Baricuatro in September or before Cebu province was declared under a state of calamity, following the 6.9-magnitude earthquake and later hit by Typhoon Tino on Nov. 4.

However, under the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) latest Memorandum Circular on the use of FTA Online System Application, all local officials who intend to travel abroad —whether official or personal---are required to secure permission from the DILG secretary, currently held by Jonvic Remulla.

Specifically, Section 4.3 of the circular states that during periods of emergency or crisis, the approving authority for all foreign travel, official or unofficial, must be the SILG himself or his authorized representative.

This means that any mayor, governor, or local official who travels abroad while their locality is under a declared emergency — such as a state of calamity must first obtain clearance from the DILG secretary.

"SILG/USLG to approve and sign action documents, relative to request for travel authorities of the specified LG Officials and Employees under Item 3.3 upon recommendation of the Bureau of Local Government Supervision," the memo reads.

The memorandum cites Executive Order No. 77, series of 2019, which mandates that the SILG approve all official foreign travels of local government personnel and also covers unofficial trips such as vacations, medical purposes, or family events.

As of press time, The Freeman has reached out to the mentioned mayors for confirmation and comment, but none of them have responded yet.

Baricuatro, in an interview, confirmed that the said officials filed their travel authority requests prior to the series of disasters that hit Cebu in recent days.

She added that while the decision to travel is the prerogative of the elected officials, they remain accountable to their constituents, especially in times of crisis. “You know, that could have been avoided…they are answerable to the people.”

Baricuatro emphasized that the provincial government had been proactive in preparing for the typhoon, coordinating with utilities and LGUs for massive evacuation and disaster response.

Lawyer Restituto Arnaiz, legal counsel of the Cebu provincial government, clarified that the mayors filed their travel requests before the declaration of the state of calamity on the province.

Section 3.2 of the circular defines unofficial trips as those undertaken for personal or private purposes, such as vacations, medical reasons, or special occasions.

Public reaction on the LGU officials’ travel abroad has been mixed, with some netizens expressing dismay over the absence of their local leaders during a time of widespread hardship and loss caused by Typhoon Tino.

Several residents from the affected northern towns have lamented the lack of visible leadership on the ground during rescue and relief operations, as thousands remain displaced and awaiting assistance.

The fifth District, which includes the towns of Catmon, Compostela, Liloan, and San Francisco, suffered heavy damage from the typhoon.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) has reported over 125 fatalities across Cebu, with hundreds still missing or displaced.

The Freeman is still awaiting official comment from the DILG on the matter.