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BY MAE SINGUAY
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Thursday, February 9, 2017
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BACOLOD City – Mayor Evelio Leonardia designated officers-in-charge (OICs) to replace three city hall department heads that the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed from government service.
Supervising Agriculturist IV Romeo Garcia Jr. was assigned OIC of the City Agriculture Office (CAO); Public Service Officer II Ruel Garaygay, OIC of the Department of Public Services (DPS); and Engineer IV Noel Impreso, OIC of the City Engineer’s Office (CEO), Memorandum No. 27 stated.
Goldwyn Nifras of the CAO, Nelson Sedillo of the DPS and Engr. Belly Aguillon of the CEO were among the 10 city government officials, including Leonardia, found guilty of grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty.
They were members of the Bids and Awards Committee when the city government made the questionable P50-million purchase of furniture and fixtures in 2008. Nifras was the chairman at the time.
Leonardia said the Human Resources Management Office assured him that the OICs were qualified for their respective posts.
Garcia, Garaygay and Impreso were entitled to a monthly representation and transportation allowance “and all other privileges allowed under the law,” the mayor’s memo stated.
‘SAD DAY’
The Interior department’s local office served dismissal orders on the representatives of the dismissed officials on Tuesday.
“It was a sad day for Bacolod,” but the process cannot be stopped, Leonardia said.
Leonardia was able to secure from the Court of Appeals a temporary restraining order (TRO) against his dismissal. The other officials sought similar legal remedies, but the Ombudsman and the appellate court have yet to act on them.
The mayor said he has explained to the others that they were in different situations.
That he was elected and the others were appointed calls for the filing of separate petitions with the Court of Appeals, Leonardia said.
According to the mayor, he used the Aguinaldo Doctrine defense. Unfortunately, this does not apply with appointed officials.
Leonardia said they can return to their posts if the appellate court issues a TRO or reverses the Ombudsman order./PN
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