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Thursday, April 03, 2003
Herrera’s censure ‘costs’ transfer of wife to island
By Oscar C. Pineda
THE wife of a former congressman, a known critic of the present administration, has been assigned to the mini-city hall in Barangay Talima, Olango Island.
But Lapu-Lapu City Vice Mayor Norma Patalinjug quickly downplayed speculations that there was “political color” in detailing Minda Herrera, wife of former congressman Efren Herrera, to Olango.
The transfer of Herrera, a Lapu-Lapu City Hall employee, came weeks after her husband wrote the City Council that somebody was extorting money from prospective investors in the city.
The extortion reportedly caused the businessmen to transfer to the neighboring cities.
Patalinjug admitted that she recommended that Herrera be detailed to Olango last March 31, which was then approved by Mayor Arturo Radaza.
More workers
Patalinjug said the island needs more employees to help in government transactions.
Aside from Herrera, Patalinjug said there are still other employees who will soon be assigned there.
She did not say how many or identify these employees.
But Patalinjug said some of these employees were once assigned to Olango Island, while others are first-timers.
Detractors of the present administration believed that Herrera’s transfer was in retaliation to her husband’s critical attitude towards the City’s current projects.
When pressed further if Herrera’s transfer was a form of punishment, Patalinjug denied this. She said she was the one who even promoted Herrera from utility 1 to utility 2, a move not granted to her by former mayor Ernest Weigel Jr.
Nothing personal
Patalinjug said she has nothing personal against Herrera, who served the Lapu-Lapu City Hall for more than nine years.
Herrera’s husband was still the 6th district congressman when she was a City Hall employee detailed to congress by Weigel, Patalinjug said.
During the first month of Radaza’s term in July 2001, 39 regular City Hall employees perceived to be supporters of Weigel, Radaza’s political rival, were transferred to Olango Island, just a boat ride from Mactan.
The number rose to 108 until they were all assigned back to the main City Hall more than a year later.
Despite her being close to the former mayor, Herrera was not included that time. It was only last March 31 when she received her appointment papers, transferring her to Olango.
(April 3, 2003 issue)
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