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BY MAE SINGUAY
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Tuesday, January 24, 2017
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BACOLOD City – If possible, Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia will not terminate city hall officials dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman.
“How I wish the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) itself will implement the order,” he said. “I do not have the heart for it.”
The Ombudsman ordered Leonardia and nine others dismissed from government service after finding them guilty of grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty.
While they all sought a temporary restraining order (TRO) against their dismissal, only Leonardia has secured one from the Court of Appeals as of this writing.
The local DILG office said yesterday they have not yet received a copy of the dismissal order against the nine.
Aside from Leonardia, dismissed were Bids and Awards Committee members in 2008: Goldwyn Nifras (chairman), Department of Public Services head Nelson Sedillo Sr., City Engineer Belly Aguillon, Engr. Aladino Agbones, Engr. Jaries Ebenizer Encabo, secretariat Melvin Recabar, former City Budget Officer Luzviminda Treyes, former City Accountant Eduardo Ravena, and former City Treasurer Annabelle Badajos.
Only six of them were current regular city government employees: Nifras, Sedillo, Aguillon, Agbones, Encabo, and Recabar.
While Ravena and Badajos have retired, the former currently serves as executive assistant to the mayor.
All seven employees facing dismissal were still reporting to their respective offices, Leonardia told a news conference yesterday.
“No dismissal order yet,” he said. “Of course, if possible at all, I do not want to have the obligation to do it to them.”
Leonardia recalled having to serve a dismissal order against a city government employee before. He does not want it to happen again.
Promulgated by the 18th Division of the Court of Appeals in Cebu City on Jan. 20, the TRO against Leonardia’s dismissal is good for 60 days.
The mayor said the TRO will “give us more time to make our case even as we continue serving our people.”
Leonardia hopes the seven others will be given the same favor.
Their dismissal stemmed from the questionable purchase of P50-million furniture and fixtures at city hall in 2008.
Aside from dismissal, the respondents shall be penalized with forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding office, cancellation of civil service eligibility, and prohibition from taking civil service exams.
The Ombudsman also found probable cause to charge them with violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act “arising from culpable violation of (the Government Procurement Reform Act) and its implementing rules and regulations to the damage and prejudice of the taxpayers and the city government of Bacolod and to the benefit of Comfac Corp., contractor of the furniture and fixtures.”/PN
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