Tuesday, November 07, 2006 Move to oust legal officer revived
AN OUSTER move against Talisay City Legal Officer Aurora Econg has surfaced anew.
A group of employees, mostly assigned in Mayor Socrates “Soc” Fernandez’s office, is reportedly spearheading the move, accusing Econg of corruption and bad transactions at City Hall.
Talks were rife that they will wear an armband and white shirts to dramatize their protest against Econg, a former city administrator.
This, however, did not happen yesterday. All transactions remained normal, with the employees wearing their office uniforms.
The name of Ike Durano II, a former radioman and now Mayor Socrates “Soc” Fernandez’s press information officer, surfaced as the initiator in the removal of Econg from City Hall.
Durano, however, refused to comment, saying he will leave it up to the mayor to issue a statement to the press. Sun.Star Cebu tried but failed to reach Fernandez for comment at press time yesterday.
Econg, who figured in a similar situation last year, remained unperturbed of this latest accusation against her.
She expressed her willingness to resign once she receives a copy of a resignation order from Fernandez.
Evidence
But Econg vowed to fight it out as she challenged the employees to produce evidence and prove their accusations against her.
“They should produce the persons who made the accusations against me. I will readily relinquish my post once I receive an order,” she said.
But she took pity on the beneficiaries of the mayor’s livelihood program for the poor whom she believes will be affected if she resigns.
Econg has been considered as implementor and prime mover of Fernan-dez’s pro-poor programs. She also has strong ties with the barangays captains and women’s groups in Talisay.
The group that wants her out reportedly sought the support of Councilor Shirley Belleza, a member of the majority in the City Council.
“I’m not an anti-Econg, but I sympathize with these employees. Maybe they have realized now that Econg has overdone her functions as legal officer. I will wear my own armband if it’s necessary,” Belleza said.
As to the ouster of Econg, Belleza said: “Let the heavens decide that.”
She was referring to Fernandez, who is a religious man and a staunch defender of the Catholic faith.
Meanwhile, most of the office employees at City Hall were not aware of the “upcoming” ouster protest against Econg.
“I don’t know the issue, why will I support that protest,” an office staff member said.
Two female office workers, whom Sun.Star Cebu met outside the canteen, also said they had no idea about the ejection move against Econg.
They suggested instead to object to the hiring of too many confidential and executive assistants in the mayor’s office.
They alleged that the mayor’s assistants have done nothing good at City Hall except receive P400 per day, much higher than the regular rank and file employees.
For his part, Ariel Araw-Araw, head of the Office of the Building Official and head of the City of Talisay Employees Union (CTEU), said he was unaware of the anti-Econg protest.
“Maybe it’s better to know the issue first because we don’t know about it,” he said. The CTEU has more than 300 members, all regular City Hall workers.
Like Araw-Araw, City Treasurer Emma Macuto said she prefers to adopt a wait-and-see stance on the issue.
Sun.Star Cebu learned that the city department heads were scheduled to meet in the mayor’s office yesterday afternoon. But Macuto said that Fernandez’s office staff did not call them up for a meeting.
Last June, Econg revealed that she received threatening text messages on her mobile phone, which she believes were related to her job as legal officer and chairman of the bids and awards committee.
The text messages wanted Econg to step down and stay away from City Hall.
She said the text messages came after the City Hall prohibited the practice of delivering in advance office supplies and equipment even without purchase orders.
Econg started serving as city legal officer during the stint of former Talisay City mayor and now Rep. Eduardo “Eddiegul” Gullas (Cebu, 1st district). (GC)
