‘Height of callousness, irresponsibility:’ Defensor blasts DAR chief Castriciones’ team-building junkets despite pandemic

Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor is dismayed with the alleged team-building junkets supposedly arranged by Agrarian Reform Sec. John Castriciones together with 188 employees despite coronavirus pandemic.

According to Defensor, the supposed out-of-town trips organized by Castriciones’ office were “the height of callousness and irresponsibility.”

“Sa gitna ng pandemya, nakakagulat, una sa lahat, ang pag lustay ng pondo ng gobyerno. Pangalawa ay ang potensyal na pagkalat ng COVID sa kanilang pag biyahe na sadyang iresponsable,” said Defensor.

Politiko earlier reported that based on a DAR memorandum, the team-building activity will be held in three batches: the first batch went to Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales from January 25 to 27, the second batch will be in Cebu from February 1 to 3, and the third batch will be staying in Butuan City from February 7 to 9.

According to the memo, a total of 189 DAR employees will join the team-building activities with Castriciones and 86 other participants are expected to join the batch.

Meanwhile, the Cebu-bound employees, numbered 42 while 61 will be staying in Butuan City, based on the same memo.

All DAR personnel who will be participating in the team-building event will be required to undergo RT-PCR tests as safety precaution against COVID-19, based on a separate memo issued by the DAR chief.

Defensor stressed the scheduled out-of-town trips by Castriciones and his agency are clear violations of President Rodrigo Duterte’s directives for government officials regarding junkets.

In March 2019, the chief executive signed Executive Order No. 77 which limits official travel to trips “essential to the effective performance of an official or employee’s mandates or functions” and those “required to meet the needs of the department, agency, bureau or office, or there is substantial benefit to be derived by the State.”

“(Ito) ay ang harapang pag labag sa direktiba ng Pangulo,” said Defensor, stressing the health hazards that can be brought by the upcoming junkets during this pandemic period. (CMC)

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)