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[av_heading heading=’5 workers’ fate in Leonardia’s hands’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MAE SINGUAY
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BACOLOD City – Mayor Evelio Leonardia has the final say on what happens to the five city government employees accused of failing to liquidate more than P9 million in cash advances.
The City Legal Office (CLO) was investigating the employees charged with gross neglect of duty before the City Mayor’s Office.
CLO head Joselito Bayatan said their investigating committee will release a decision within 30 days starting today.
Recommendations on what actions Leonardia must take will accompany the decision.
Leonardia may either heed the recommendation or seek further review and come up with his own decision, being the city government employees’ “disciplinary authority,” said the city legal officer.
While the CLO is mandated under the Local Government Code to investigate violations committed by city government workers, the mayor will still render the final decision, Bayatan clarified.
The five city hall workers, the amount of cash advances they allegedly failed to liquidate, and the corresponding dates and purposes are as follows:
* Department of Social Services and Development head Pacita Tero – P84,866, May 21, 2014, Philippine National Games (Manila); P3.5 million, April 28, 2015, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2015
* City Planning and Development Office assistant head Mae Cuaycong – P3 million, April 21, 2015, APEC 2015
* Public Affairs Assistance Division personnel Edsel Casilagan – P500,000, Feb. 11, 2015, representation in the Hong Kong International Chinese New Year Celebration (Feb. 15 to 22, 2015); P11,685, “Lamesa ni Mayor” seminar
* City Health Office nursing assistant Diana Besañes – P500,000, April 8, 2015, Panaad sa Negros Festival 2015
* Ma. Fe Tresfuentes of city hall’s Department of Public Services – P2,041,000, Nov. 2, 2015, Charter Day celebration 2015
They had been suspended from Sept. 7 to Nov. 7.
The CLO asked them to submit a position paper pertaining to their charge.
But Bayatan said they received on Dec. 9 a letter from the workers’ counsel, Joel Cabalatungan, saying they will no longer send a position paper since they already filed counter-affidavits and submitted documents to the Accounting Office./PN
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