3 of Gwen’s coterminous staff quit, opt not to work for Agnes

THREE staff members of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia who were earlier told to report to Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale have resigned.

Ronald Conopio, Jerry Winnona Catipay and Edwin Mixdon handed Magpale their resignation letters last Thursday. Magpale approved their resignation yesterday.

The employment of Catipay, Conopio and Mixdon are coterminous with Garcia’s term.

It is not known what other staff members who are coterminous with Garcia—the governor’s chief of staff Elizabeth Francia, Amor Sarmiento and Ma. Elena Samson—will do. They were reported earlier as having taken a leave of absence.

The Committee on Discipline and Investigation (CODI) at Capitol issued a 72-hour ultimatum to them last Monday to report to Magpale. But none of them came back to work last Wednesday when the ultimatum expired.

CODI will reportedly decide whether the three will be dismissed.

Payment

Catipay indicated in her resignation letter that his last day of work is on Monday while Mixdon expressed his intention to leave Capitol immediately.

Coterminous employees who resigned will only get payment from their remaining leave credits.

Magpale said the resignations mean loss for the Capitol as the employees have been efficient in their work after serving the Province for many years.

But she said she cannot force them to forget their loyalty.

“Mas maayo nalang moresign sila (It is better that they resigned)”, Magpale told reporters.

With Garcia suspended for six months starting Dec. 19, Magpale ordered the personnel of the Office of the Governor to report to her.

Magpale said Capitol will hire new people to take the place of the three personnel.

Lawyer Czareem Joseph Estella of CODI said the employment of coterminous personnel can be terminated anytime “without cause and at short notice.” He cited the Supreme Court decision in Samuel Ong versus the Office of the President case.