The Philippines’ political landscape has been rocked by controversy as several key officials, including Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and her congressional husband, faced intense public scrutiny for their absence from their home province of Cebu during the onslaught of Typhoon “Tino” (Kalmaegi). The typhoon severely devastated the Visayas region, particularly Cebu, leaving a high death toll and massive displacement.
The Frasco Couple: Defending Absence and Prompt Return
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco confirmed late Thursday, November 6, that she had been in London during the typhoon. This admission was made via a Facebook post following her return and involvement in relief operations in Liloan, her husband’s constituency, and where her brother-in-law serves as Mayor.
In her post, the Secretary shared images of herself, her husband Representative Duke Frasco, and Mayor Aljew Frasco distributing family food packs and financial assistance to victims. She noted a critical coordination meeting where plans were set to deploy 6,000 food packs immediately, with thousands more to follow.
The clarification was an attempt to quell persistent rumors that the couple had flown out of the country just before the typhoon struck the Visayas. Frasco detailed her official travel, stating she:
Arrived in London on the morning of November 4 to lead the Philippine delegation at the World Travel Market (WTM).
Represented the country at the Ministerial Summit.
Led the opening of the Philippine Stand at the WTM.
Acknowledging the devastation in Cebu, Frasco stated she immediately took a flight “the very next day,” arriving back in the Philippines on November 6. While she initially used “I” when describing her departure, she shifted to “we arrived” when mentioning her return, suggesting her husband, Rep. Duke Frasco, may have accompanied her.
Representative Duke Frasco, who represents Cebu’s 5th District, has not yet issued a statement confirming his travel to London despite repeated inquiries. He has, however, been actively posting photos on Facebook documenting his presence and participation in relief efforts for affected Liloan residents. The visibility of the couple engaging in post-disaster relief seems intended to counter criticisms of their absence during the storm itself.
Interestingly, some photos posted by the Congressman showed relief boxes labeled “Frasco” being distributed alongside official DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) boxes, a practice that often draws criticism regarding the politicization of disaster aid.
Widespread Foreign Travel by Cebu Officials
The controversy surrounding the Frascos quickly broadened to encompass other local government figures. A report by The Freeman found that the Frascos were not alone in their foreign travel, highlighting a troubling exodus of Cebu officials during a critical period of crisis.
A total of eight local officials from the Cebu provincial government filed for a Foreign Travel Authority (FTA), all for a trip to the United Kingdom. Notably, these documents were approved by Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro back in September—after the province had already been placed under a state of calamity following a deadly 6.9-magnitude earthquake.
The situation is legally precarious, as travel requests for local officials in areas under a state of calamity reportedly require clearance from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), raising questions about whether proper protocols were followed.
The travel dates of these officials largely align with the World Travel Market 2025 held in London from November 4 to 6. The officials and their approved travel periods include:
Official
Position
Travel Dates (2025)
Mayor Avis Ginoo-Monleon
Catmon
October 30 – November 7
Mayor Alfredo Arquillano Jr.
San Francisco
November 1 – November 7
Mayor Greman Solante
Tudela
November 1 – November 7
Mayor Edgar G. Rama
Poro
November 1 – November 7
Mayor Manuel Santiago
Pilar
November 1 – November 7
Mayor Felijur Quiño
Compostela
November 1 – November 7
Mayor Aljew Fernando Frasco
Liloan
November 1 – November 11
Andrei Duterte
Provincial Government Member
November 1 – November 8
The sight of so many key municipal leaders being abroad while Typhoon Tino was inflicting catastrophic damage on their communities has understandably ignited a public debate about the priorities and accountability of elected officials during times of natural disaster.
The Scale of Typhoon Tino’s Impact
The criticisms leveled against the traveling officials are intensified by the severe impact of the typhoon, underscoring the necessity of having local leadership present to coordinate the immediate emergency response.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the final devastation was massive:
The death toll from Typhoon “Tino” has risen to 188.
A tragic 139 of these fatalities were recorded in Cebu Province alone.
The agency reported 135 people still missing, with 79 of those from Cebu.
The combination of the immense humanitarian crisis and the documented foreign travel of multiple provincial and municipal leaders has created a significant political storm, demanding answers about disaster preparedness, local governance, and ethical conduct.
