THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Friday that there is no need to file charges against former Manila City mayor Joseph E. Estrada for allegedly not turning over official city government documents to his successor, Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagaso.

DILG Undersecretary Jonathan E. Malaya said that the agency’s investigation showed that Mr. Estrada’s team had turned over the documents to the DILG Manila Office, which were then submitted to the new administration on July 2.

“Our DILG Manila Field Office reviewed and validated the transition documents and the same were forwarded to the Office of the City Administrator Felixberto Espiritu, copy furnished the Office of the City Mayor on July 2, 2019,” said Mr. Malaya in a statement.

Mr. Estrada did not attend the turn-over ceremony on June 28 at the Quirino Grandstand.

Mr. Malaya noted that despite the absence of the former city mayor, the former city administrator had endorsed the transition documents to DILG City Director Rolynne Javier in the afternoon of the same day after the staff of the incoming Secretary to the Mayor refused to receive the documents.

“The turnover ceremony is just ceremonial to symbolize the transition of power from an outgoing official to the next. Even if there is no formal ceremony or even if Estrada failed to attend the turnover rites, what’s important is that the transition documents are intact and are now in the possession of Mayor Isko’s team,” said Mr. Malaya.

The DILG has earlier issued Memorandum Circular No. 2019-39 which requires the creation of Local Governance Transition Teams to ensure smooth leadership and management transition. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

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