Duterte gives powers to DILG chief to fill in LGU vacancies

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday signed an order giving Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año power to name officials for vice mayor and vice governor when the positions could not be filled by succession.

The newly signed Administrative Order 15 was published at Malacañan Palace on Friday.

Although there are current laws in the Local Government Code that specify succession rules in permanent vacancies, AO 15 argues that there is a need to clearly address filling temporary vacancies in local government units.

The order defines a temporary vacancy when a "governor, city or municipal mayor, or punong barangay (barangay captain) is temporarily incapacitated to perform his duties for physical or legal reasons such as, but not limited to, leave of absence, travel abroad, and suspension from office."

The provision that gives the DILG appointment powers specifically refers to vice mayoralties or vice governorships left vacant—presumably due to ascension of office.

The Office of the Ombudsman in July said LGUs topped the number of cases filed by the anti-corruption prosecutor's office in 2017.

The Ombudsman’s Finance and Management Information Office said that in 2017, 265 cases were filed against officials and employees in provincial governments, 1,849 cases for cities or municipality governments, 1,065 cases for barangays and 10 cases for unclassified LGUs.

The Philippine National Police came in second with 939 cases. — Ryan Macasero