Roxas City—Interviewing a local radio program on Aug. 31, Dadivas said that he has a strong reservation on the issuance of the show cause order given to him by Gov. Esteban Evan Contreras.
According to Dadivas, “ang provision nga gin-cite wala kagasanto (the provision cited is irrelevant).”
Dadivas said that it should only be issued by the President through his alter ego which is the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) who is authorized to discipline the municipal mayors including the component city.
Dadivas also called the order “defective” because the governor has no power of authority to discipline the mayors. He added that Contreras can either call, request or send him a letter for clarification as a courtesy.
On Aug. 27, 2020, Gov. Esteban Evan Contreras issued a show cause order to Roxas City Mayor Ronnie Dadivas ordering the latter to explain in writing within 72 hours upon receipt of the said order.
The letter also stated why no administrative case will be filed Dadivas for stopping or preventing the scheduled voyage of Starlight Ferries on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 supposed to transport 53 Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) to the Port of Batangas. The trip did not solely compose of residents of Roxas City but from the different municipalities of Capiz.
It also stated that following the guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Managing Emerging Infectious Diseases, the required Notice of Coordination was issued on the day of the voyage, Aug. 26, 2020, based on the Letter of Acceptance by the receiving Municipalities.
It also said that the voyage was closely coordinated by the Philippine Coast Guard in Culasi Port, Roxas City through its station commander, Edison Diaz and the LGUs.
Interviewing the Capiz Times recently, Contreras said that the order he sent to Dadivas was based on Republic Act No. 7160, Sec. 465, Provincial Governor: Powers, Duties, Functions, and Compensation, under which, item 2-i states: “ensure that the acts of the component cities and municipalities of the province and of its officials and employees are within the scope of their prescribed powers, duties and functions.”
Contreras added that the order is not for discipline but to file an administrative case if Dadivas violates his duties and functions as mayor. He added that based on the same provision, the governor, as the chief executive of the province, has a supervisory power over the component city.
For example, Contreras said that all the ordinances of the municipalities or even the city ordinances will be forwarded to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for review. All Executive Orders of the municipal mayors and the component city mayor should also be submitted to the governor for review within 72 hours before implementation.
Contreras challenged Dadivas, saying: “Kung sin-o sa amon gabinutig, ma-resign kami (Whoever between us is not telling the truth must resign his post)”.
Contreras added that they should tell the truth to the people because in the end, “the truth will come out.”
“Tama na ang pinatalang sa mga tawo kay sa pilaw ka adlaw, magwa man gihapon ang kamatuoran (Enough with misinforming the public—in a matter of time, the truth will come out),” he said. (Ralph John Mijares & Edalyn Acta)
