Council secretary files complaint vs vice mayor

BACOLOD City Council secretary Nilo Alejandrino filed a complaint against Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson for barring him from going to his office after he was meted a 60-day preventive suspension without pay.

Alejandrino filed the complaint for oppression and abuse of authority before Police Station 4 recently.

Alejandrino said in a blotter report dated December 2, 2011, that on November 23, an order for preventive suspension for 60 days was served to him by the vice mayor because of administrative complaint involving himself and Councilor Caesar Distrito.

He said he went to his office at the Bacolod City Government Center on November 24 and 25 but not to perform his official function as secretary due to the suspension meted him.

Alejandrino said at about 5:45 p.m., upon orders of Sayson, the staff of the Office of the Vice Mayor and some personnel of the Public Order and Safety Office padlocked and changed the door locks of his office so he could no longer enter starting Monday.

He still has personal things left inside his office, he said.

The order of the vice mayor to padlock his office and change the door locks is allegedly oppressive and illegal, as it deprives him of his right to liberty, Alejandrino said.

Asked for his reaction, Sayson said it is clear in the Uniform Rules of the Civil Service Procedures that if one is preventively suspended, he is barred from entering his office.

He said Alejandrino continued to enter his office for two days when the purpose of the preventive suspension is to protect the records in his office.

Sayson said the changing of the lock to his office is a direct consequence of the preventive suspension imposed on him.