‘Nothing wrong with Loot’s absence in municipal hall’

Even if he is not physically present at the town hall, Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot cannot be penalized for dereliction and abandonment as long as his work continues and the delivery of basic services is not hampered.

This was the comment of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Cebu Provincial Director Jerome Gonzales on Loot’s absence from the Municipal Hall for several weeks now.

Loot clarified, though, that he continues to work even though he has minimized his public appearances due to threats on his life.

In an email sent to Sun Star Cebu yesterday, Loot clarified that he is not hiding.

“I preferred to lay low and limit my public exposure for security reasons as I perform my job away from the prying eyes of interested parties,” he said.

Even though he is not in the town hall, Loot said, his depart- ment heads are there to ensure that basic services continue to be delivered.

“The mayor is just a figurehead that makes sure that all other heads are putting their acts together in accordance with the functions, responsibilities and accountability inherent to their individual offices,” Loot added.

In a separate interview, Loot’s wife, former Daanbantayan Mayor Maria Luisa Loot, said that her husband is in a “confidential” location.

But she assured the people that Loot will continue to function as mayor despite his situation.

In an interview, DILG’s Gonzales said there is nothing wrong with Loot’s decision to work outside the town hall provided that the delivery of basic services are not affected in his absence.

Gonzales said he does not see any problem since Loot can still sign documents pertaining to the municipality’s transactions.

Loot started avoiding being in public after he and his family were ambushed by unidentified men before the May 2018 barangay elections.

His public appearances became fewer due to the constant threats made by President Rodrigo Duterte against him for being an alleged drug protector.

Loot, though, is not facing drug charges in court.

Meanwhile, the Cebu police chief assured Loot that they will only take legal action against him if there is a court order.

Senior Supt. Manuel Javier Abrugena, however, said they cannot provide the mayor with police escorts after the latter had been stripped of his administrative and operational control over the municipal police station.

Abrugena said he called the Daanbantayan police chief about Loot. He was told that Loot is still functioning as mayor.