MANILA - Hundreds of local government officials are facing various complaints, ranging from administrative to criminal cases, in relation to their alleged misconduct in enforcing regulations to battle the coronavirus pandemic.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a briefing streamed early Wednesday that 886 local officials are facing criminal complaints, for alleged mishandling of cash aid distribution under the government's social amelioration program among others.
Out of the 886, 364 are elected and the rest are appointed, according to Año.
The Cabinet official also said that 182 barangay officials are facing 182 administrative cases while 19 mayors have been given show-cause orders for alleged violations regarding COVID-19 policies, such as holding public gatherings and illegal gambling amid the pandemic.
Año urged local government officials to strictly implement anti-coronavirus policies in their jurisdictions to effectively curb the fast-spreading pathogen.
To date, the Philippines has logged more than 47,000 cases of the deadly disease with 1,309 fatalities, based on official tally.
LGU, local officials, criminal cases, administrative cases, barangay officials, mayors, coronavirus, COVID-19, coronavirus lockdown, COVID-19 lockdown