Stop Purisima’s orders: City

THE Cebu City Government asked the court to fast-track the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) to prevent appointees of Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima from taking over the City Treasurer’s Office.

City Hall lawyers yesterday filed an urgent pleading asking Judge Douglas Marigomen to issue an order to prevent Emma Villarete from assuming as officer-in-charge of the City Treasurer’s Office.

They fear that if the finance secretary is not stopped, the city’s petition for declaratory relief may become moot and academic, considering that the secretary’s orders are “effective immediately.”

Marigomen, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 5, scheduled the hearing of the petition at 2 p.m. today.

The case stemmed from the two orders issued by Purisima, replacing Acting City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva.

In February, Purisima issued Department Personnel Order 59-2012 designating Tessie Camarillo as officer-in-charge of the City Treasurer’s Office.

In June, Purisima issued another order, Department Personnel Order 198-2012, designating Villarete also as OIC of the treasurer’s office.

City Hall later filed the declaratory relief case questioning the two orders issued by Purisima.

It asked the court to stop the new order that named Villarete in charge of the treasurer’s office.

The city also asked the court to annul the two orders, claiming that Purisima acted with grave abuse of discretion.

The City, in its petition, argued that in issuing the two orders, the finance department committed a “patently illegal, arbitrary and oppressive act.”

Citing Department of Finance Personnel Order 305-2000, the petition said Purisima has delegated to the Bureau of Local Government Finance the appointment of provincial, city, and municipal treasurers and their assistants, except for Metro Manila.

Disowned

But the Cebu City Council disowned the petition, saying it has not authorized Mayor Michael Rama to file the petition.

The council said the petition filed by the mayor in behalf of the City Government was without “authority, concurrence, and approval.”

The City lawyers said that despite the two orders, there is no violation of the law since there is no turnover of responsibility yet from Oliva to Villarete.