MAASIN City, Southern Leyte: The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Southern Leyte is seeking the arrest of a top official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Southern Leyte Second District Engineering Office.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan, during its regular session presided over by Vice Gov. Rose Emilia Mercado on Monday, passed a resolution calling for the arrest of Engr. Eduardo Santos, district engineer of the DPWH Southern Leyte Second Engineering District.
The resolution was filed by First District Board Member Teofisto Rojas Jr. after Santos ignored, for the sixth time, the invitation from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to appear before its session.
He said the refusal of Santos to attend the sessions is 'a way of insulting their authority.'
Rojas said the provincial board's arrest order will be directed to the chief of police of the Maasin City Police Station.
Second District Board Member Virgilio Mortera said they wanted Santos to clarify and explain the proliferation of huge tarpaulin posters of local politicians along the sidewalks of national roads in Southern Leyte.
Mortera said the posters violated the directive of former President Rodrigo Duterte to clear all roads of obstruction.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan also wanted Santos to clarify the issues affecting his office, such as the road accident at the ongoing drainage project at Barangay Mahayahay and Catmon in St. Bernard, Southern Leyte, last June.
However, Santos wrote and explained to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on July 7, 2023, that he would be traveling to Manila for official business and would not be able to attend the session on July 12. He, however, said he was willing to meet the board members in a meeting at the DPWH Regional Office 8 in Palo, Leyte, at any time.
The travel time from Maasin City to Palo town is around five hours.