Tuesday, May 27, 2008 CSC opinion sought on suspension of 4 city employees
A BACOLOD lawyer sought the immediate opinion of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) on the case of four City Hall workers who were suspended for 30 days without pay by Mayor Evelio Leonardia for alleged unauthorized absences last month.
In a phone interview Monday, lawyer Cesar Biloria Jr., acting as counsel for suspended workers Arnel Mondejar, Germale Federico, Sherwyn Todrero, and Max Calderon, said: "I'd already asked CSC here in Bacolod to render an immediate opinion in the case of my clients."
"Because if only the City Hall people, especially City Legal Officer Allan Zamora will hear their suspension, it might be an uphill battle on our part," he stressed.
Mondejar, Federico, and Calderon are traffic aides assigned to the Bacolod Traffic Authority (BTA) while Todrero is a utility worker detailed at the City's General Services Office (GSO).
Based on Leonardia's April 17, 2008 order, the four are suspended for one month without pay for alleged unauthorized absences on August 17 and 24, 2007 and April 8, 9 and 11, 2008.
The four, however, cried harassment over the suspension order.
Mondejar and Todrero said they were allegedly harassed by Leonardia's political allies whom they identified as Marlou 'Nonoy' Amago, Rex Reli, and Nelson Sedillo.
Complaints for grave threat and harassment were already filed against Amago and Reli before the lupon tagapamayapa of barangays 2 and Villamonte, respectively.
Lawyer Biloria said if the CSC would distance itself from investigating the case of his clients, "we will bring this case to the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas. (Erwin Ambo Delilan)
