BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The City Council is deliberating on passing amended measures relative to the conduct of administrative cases against barangay officials.
The council’s justice and legal affairs committee recently passed on second reading the proposed 2024 Revised Rules of Procedure for Administrative Cases against elected barangay officials.
“It is only proper now to revisit and revamp the provisions of the rules of procedure for administrative cases to allow it to be consistent with the original mandate of the Local Government Code which is to hear and try the administrative cases filed before it in a just, fair, and timely manner as to now cause undue delay,” read the committee report chaired by Councilor Frances Grace Torres.
The measure aims to address and streamline the handling of administrative complaints and violations committed by local barangay officials, ensuring accountability and proper governance at the grassroots level.
By implementing the revised measures, the council seeks to enhance transparency and efficiency in dealing with administrative cases, promoting better public service and adherence to the law among barangay officials.
Under the proposed amendment, the ordinance provides that in receiving electronic evidence, the same should be stored in a Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive attached to the complaint.
Under Regulation Ordinance 2017-069, the majority of the City Council is still required to constitute a quorum in acting upon all the matters to be taken up in the proceedings.
The City Council shall act as a collegial body when conducting hearings on administrative cases. The council noted the 90-day ban imposed on the council to conduct administrative hearings before the conduct of elections caused unresolved administrative cases filed before the City Council to swell.
Such a ban also exposed the weakness of the existing rules of procedures, the council lamented.
“For a time, it was considered satisfactorily and monumental in providing a procedure structure for the conduct of administrative cases filed before the Sangguniang Panglungsod,” the committee report read./PN
