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Friday, September 23, 2005
Tomas sacks social workers
By Linette C. Ramos & Grecar Nilles
Sun.Star Staff Reporters
Instead of transferring the two Operation Second Chance Center social workers, as recommended by a judge, Cebu City Mayor Tomas fired them.
He also vowed to suspend for six months the allowance of some jail guards for the alleged maltreatment of some wards.
The mayor said he might reconsider his decision, but only if the social workers and the center’s management board come up with something new in their review of the case.
Osmeña signed the dismissal order of social workers Emy Sta. Cruz and Frances Abangan two weeks ago yet, after Regional Trial Court Branch 24 Judge Olegario Sar-miento Jr. found the allegations to be true.
Sarmiento is the managing director of Operation Second Chance in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City.
“Sarmiento only recommended a transfer but I (dismissed) them immediately. No questions, no hearing, no nothing. They’re casuals so we’ll terminate their services on the spot. The only thing that delayed it was the typing of the dismissal order,” Osmeña said.
Liable
Sarmiento found Sta. Cruz and Abangan liable for the abuse of some children and recommended their transfer.
At least five children complained to the management board that some jail guards and social workers abused them physically and mentally.
In a news conference yesterday, Osmeña said he would also replace the jail warden if he finds out that he was involved in the alleged maltreatment of the wards in the facility.
The mayor said he does not care if the two workers are allies of his political party, Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan. Besides, there are other social workers he can hire anytime, he said.
“I don’t want to waste time on an investigation. If you get caught, you get caught, then finished. I can change my mind but better tell me something new.
If they don’t say anything new, then why should I change my mind?” he said.
Abangan already filed a motion for reconsideration, which the management board will discuss in their meeting next week.
Legal move
But unless the children who complained of abuses and maltreatment seek their help, the Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB) will not initiate any legal move against the social workers and jail guards.
Lawyer Joan Saniel, in an interview yesterday, said the least they can do is to ask other government agencies to conduct a thorough investigation on the children’s allegations.
She said it would be unethical and improper for them to offer their help to the children, without the victims asking for their help.
“But if they will ask for assistance from us, we are open to assist them legally anytime. But our group will study the matter more comprehensively, so that we will know the issues involved,” Saniel said.
She also recommends that those who complained of physical abuse go to any government hospital for medical examination, in case charges will be filed against the social workers or the guards.
Jail officers Renante Ramirez, Raglen Cimafran-ca, Dindo Sienes, Filberto Antiquiña and Mary Glor Mejorada were reprimanded and warned that a repetition of the incident will be dealt with more severely, but they were allowed to continue working in the center.
Replacements
Mayor Osmeña said he will suspend for six months the allowance of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) guards assigned at the facility.
He will not bother to change the guards since their replacements will still come from BJMP.
“If you transfer them, you will get the same, if not even worse,” Osmeña said.
In a separate interview, City Councilor Gerardo Carillo said they are continuously training their social workers and jail guards to ensure that the wards are treated and cared for properly.
Since the guards and social workers are not from the same background and orientation, Carillo said it is inevitable that they would differ in their way of treating the children.
Carillo, chairman of the City Council’s committee on social services, said he has no problem with the mayor’s decision, since it’s his discretion to do so if he believes the termination is warranted.
“The facility is supposed to be for the children, and if the social workers act and behave contrary to what is expected of them, then it becomes a problem,” Carillo said.
(September 23, 2005 issue)
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