Over trip to Europe: Duke, 7 execs face charges

CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — Fifth District Rep. Vincent “Duke” Frasco and seven municipal mayors under his district are facing criminal and administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas for allegedly abandoning their constituents during the onslaught of Typhoon Tino, one of the deadliest storms to hit Cebu in recent history.

Lawyer Julius Añora Jr. filed the complaint, asking the anti-graft office to place Rep. Frasco and the respondent mayors—Aljew Frasco of Liloan, Avis Ginoo-Monleon of Catmon, Alfredo Arquillano Jr. of San Francisco, Greman Solante of Tudela, Edgar Rama of Poro, Manuel Santiago of Pilar, and Felijur Quiño of Compostela—under preventive suspension.

Añora also sought their dismissal from service, disqualification from holding any public office, and forfeiture of benefits.

He cited several laws allegedly violated by the respondents, including the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (RA 10121), the Local Government Code of 1991 (RA 7160),  the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials (RA 6713), the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019), and Article XI, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution, which declares that public office is a public trust.

According to Añora, the respondents were in London, United Kingdom, for personal reasons during the critical days when Typhoon Tino devastated their towns and the entire district.

“While families were battling floodwaters, displacement, and tragic loss of life, these officials were abroad for personal engagements, leaving their towns without leadership at a time when the law required their direct supervision,” Añora said.

The lawyer stressed that under RA 10121, municipal mayors are designated on-scene commanders of disaster response, responsible for leading evacuations, coordinating with barangays and national agencies, and deploying emergency teams in real time.

Their absence, he claimed, constituted gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct, dereliction of duty, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and breach of public trust.

Añora alleged that the lack of local leadership resulted in delayed evacuation orders, disrupted relief distribution, and impaired rescue operations. Liloan, in particular, recorded 35 deaths—the highest among the affected municipalities.

He also cited Section 444 of RA 7160, which mandates mayors to exercise general supervision and control over municipal programs and services, especially during emergencies. Their absence, he said, prevented the authorization of calamity funds, deployment of rescue assets, and coordination of relief operations.

“Disaster governance is not a task that can be delegated or performed remotely. It requires real-time situational awareness and executive decision-making that cannot be done from thousands of miles away,” Añora said.

Añora further noted that while Rep. Frasco was not a designated local disaster commander, he still had a duty to facilitate coordination between local and national agencies, secure emergency support, and advocate for relief measures as the district’s representative.

“Congressman Frasco’s presence in London, without official assignment or authorization, prevented him from mobilizing resources, expediting national interventions, and representing his constituents during a life-threatening calamity,” the complaint reads.

Añora also cited constitutional and ethical obligations under Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution and Sections 4(a) and 4(b) of RA 6713, which require public officials to prioritize public welfare and perform their duties with excellence.

He flagged the officials’ trip as a misuse of government resources and an abandonment of duty, stressing that travel approvals do not absolve public officials from their responsibilities during life-threatening emergencies.

“Public office is a public trust. Our people were drowning, our communities were suffering, and lives were being lost—yet our local leaders were abroad on a private trip. This case is not about politics. It is about accountability. It is about the 224 lives lost, the thousands displaced, and the families who will never be the same. It is about reminding every public official that leadership is a responsibility, not a privilege to be enjoyed while their constituents are in crisis,” Añora said in a social media post after filing the complaint.

“We cannot normalize negligence. We cannot excuse absence in times when presence is most needed. The people deserve justice. And the truth deserves to be told,” he added.

‘Based on assumptions and misrepresentations’

Rep. Frasco dismissed the complaint as “founded on erroneous assumptions and misrepresentations of fact and law.”

He clarified that his travel to London was authorized by the Speaker of the House and that he was part of the Philippine delegation to the World Travel Market (WTM), one of the world’s largest global tourism expositions.

“This event provides an important platform for promoting international partnerships, investments, and economic opportunities for our country, particularly in the tourism sector,” he said.

Frasco emphasized that no government funds were used for his travel, despite it being official. He said that upon learning of the flooding in Cebu, he immediately arranged his return trip—arriving in London on November 4, departing on November 5, and returning to Cebu on November 6, where he proceeded directly to Barangay Cotcot, Liloan, to assist in relief coordination.

He also clarified that travel authorities for local officials were granted by the Cebu Provincial Government, which likewise had the power to approve or cancel such trips.

“The authority to cancel such travel likewise rests with the Provincial Government of Cebu,” Frasco explained.

Responding to allegations of neglect, Frasco said the claims were legally misplaced.

“As a legislator, my constitutional duties encompass representation, lawmaking, and oversight. Yet in times of crisis, I always try to extend whatever support and assistance I can offer to my constituents, to the point of giving personally funded relief, which is what my team immediately mobilized,” he said.

Añora is the same lawyer who filed a disqualification case before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) against Rep. Frasco’s mother-in-law, former governor Gwendolyn Garcia, during the May 2025 elections.

Four mayors lacked DILG clearance

Meanwhile, records showed that four of the seven mayors who traveled to Europe at the height of Typhoon Tino did not secure the required clearance from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

A summary of Foreign Travel Authorities (FTAs) obtained by the media revealed that the mayors of Liloan, San Francisco, Catmon, and Compostela only had approval from the governor but lacked final authorization from the DILG’s FTA Portal.

The document listed FTAs signed by Governor Pamela Baricuatro between September 2 and 24, 2025, covering multiple foreign trips—mostly to London—scheduled from November 1 to 11, 2025.

Under DILG rules, local officials must obtain travel clearance from both the governor and the DILG Secretary before leaving the country, whether for official or personal reasons.

Only three mayors—Santiago, Rama, and Solante—and Provincial Board Member Andrei Duterte were found to have secured both the governor’s approval and DILG clearance for their London trips.

One official, Borbon Mayor Nico Dotillos, canceled his planned travel abroad to prepare for the typhoon.

The list is believed to be part of an ongoing audit or investigation by the DILG or the Cebu Provincial Government into whether foreign travels of mayors and other local executives complied with national policies. Sources said the findings could lead to administrative action, especially since the trips coincided with a series of disasters that hit Cebu in early November.

Cebu was placed under a state of calamity following a 6.9-magnitude earthquake and later Typhoon Tino, which struck on November 4, 2025, causing widespread flooding and displacements.

During such periods, DILG’s Memorandum Circular on the Foreign Travel Authority Online System Application requires all local officials to secure approval directly from the DILG Secretary before traveling abroad. Section 4.3 of the circular specifies that only the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (SILG) or an authorized representative may approve travel requests during emergencies.

The directive cites Executive Order No. 77, series of 2019, which governs both official and personal foreign travel of government personnel and local executives.

The DILG central office has reportedly ordered a review of all foreign travel clearances issued to Cebu officials during the period leading up to the disasters. Under the law, unauthorized travel may be considered a violation of administrative regulations and could warrant sanctions ranging from suspension to dismissal.

Sogod LGU denies mayor was abroad

Meanwhile, the Municipality of Sogod issued a statement on Monday denying social media claims that Mayor Moonyeen Durano-Streegan was also in London during the typhoon.

The LGU condemned what it described as “fake social media posts” that circulated old photos to falsely suggest the mayor was abroad while her town was under calamity.

“Kitang mga Sogoranon nasayod nga si Mayor Moonyeen wala gayud mobiya sa Sogod atol sa bagyo,” the statement read.

“Padayon siyang nangulo sa relief ug restoration efforts aron masiguro ang maayong kahimtang sa katawhan,” it added.

The LGU urged residents to verify information and avoid sharing misleading content, emphasizing that Mayor Durano-Streegan has been “present and hands-on” in leading disaster response operations.