Fired Capitol workers to work even sans pay

CEBU, Philippines – Some of the 57 contractual and casual employees under the Office of the Vice Governor claimed they will continue to work even if they are not paid salaries after their contracts were not renewed by the governor.

About 30 of them met with Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr. in his office yesterday and assured him of their continued services even if they don’t get paid.

When asked how they will sustain that needs of their respective families, the employees said that “God will provide”.

Sanchez said he was deeply touched by the support given to him by the employees and promised to do everything within his means to provide financial assistance to these employees.

“I am willing to give my life total tiguwang na bitaw ko,” Sanchez told his staff.

Sanchez said that aside from the contractual and casual employees his nine consultants whose contracts were likewise terminated promised to continue serving without getting compensated.

One of the consultants told The FREEMAN that their service to the people “transcends politics.” He added that service to the people is paramount.

Sanchez yesterday showed a Supreme Court decision that upheld his authority to appoint the employees under the legislative department. In the case of Atienza versus Villarosa in Mindoro Oriental the SC held that “while the governor has authority to appoint officials and employees whose salaries are paid out of the provincial funds, this does not extend to the officials and employees of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan because such authority is lodged with the vice governor.”

Sanchez said he is supposed to be the appointing authority of these 57 casuals and contractual employees under his office. While Governor Gwendolyn Garcia did not renew the contracts of the employees under his office, Sanchez yesterday signed all the contracts of the employees of the Provincial Board members regardless of whether or not they are his partymates.

Sanchez said most of the contracts he signed were that of the staff of the PB members under the One Cebu Party. Sanchez said he intends to deliver a privilege speech on Monday to defense of the independence of the legislative department which he said has been trampled upon by governor.

Capitol spokesman Rory Jon Sepulveda however said the contracts of the casual and contractual employees are still subject to verification. There were reports that some of these employees are working in private farms.

Sanchez admitted that at least four of these casual and contractual employees are assigned in the field for his livelihood program. He said these employees conduct training. In fact, Sanchez said, among those who attended the trainings facilitated by these employees are provincial agriculturist Necias Vicoy and the governor’s mother, retired judge Esperanza Garcia.

Provincial attorney Marino Martinquilla already issued a memorandum yesterday directing seven of the 57 employees under the vice governor to explain why they were seen in private farms in Tuburan and Tabuelan during office hours.

Capitol also accused Sanchez of making a drama of the issue to get sympathy from the public.

According to Sepulveda, of the 57 casual and contractual employees under the Office of the Vice Governor, one of them resigned last December.

He added that of the 56 casual and contractual employees, only seven are subject to further review because of the reports that they were always seen in Tuburan town.

Sepulveda said the seven employees were the subject of the reports received by Capitol that they were always seen at the fish pond and farmlands owned by Sanchez.

Sepulveda said the cease and desist order for casual and contractual employees whose contracts expired at the end of the year is a normal occurrence every start of the year.

Sepulveda said Sanchez should justify why he needs these casual employees so that their contract should be renewed especially now that the possibility of being delegated executive functions is very remote considering the fallout that happened between him and Garcia. — Fred P. Languido and Jose P. Sollano/BRP   (FREEMAN NEWS)