Thursday, April 26, 2007
Toledo mayor’s husband questioned for signing checks sans authority
AFTER the Civil Service Commission (CSC) disapproved his appointment as secretary to the mayor, the husband of Toledo City Mayor Arlene Espinosa-Zambo is now being questioned for signing government checks without authority.
In his letter to CSC Chairperson Karina Constantino David, complainant Ramon Remeticado said Mayor Zambo appointed her husband, Avelino Zambo Jr., last March 19 to another position, this time as Executive Assistant II.
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Remeticado said that on the same day (March 19), Mayor Zambo issued her husband an “authority to sign documents” like trip tickets, mayor’s permits, travel orders for personnel, purchase requests, personnel payroll, disbursement vouchers and checks and abstracts of bids.
Remeticado said he was shocked to learn that Zambo Jr. signed government checks on March 23 because his appointment was submitted to the CSC 7 only last March 29.
CSC 7 Director Edwin A. Antepuesto disapproved the appointment last April 16.
Graft charges
Zambo Jr.’s first appointment, also signed by his wife, was disapproved by CSC 7 with finality last Jan. 11 because it violated the law on nepotism, being a career position.
Remeticado filed graft charges against Toledo City’s first couple in relation to the CSC disapproval of the first appointment.
“How could this horrible thing happen? Is this how the system goes, just change position and that’s it? Everything is over and done?” Remeticado asked in his letter to David.
Remeticado said he will also file criminal and administrative charges against the Zambo couple because the executive assistant II post is also a career service position, which requires professional second level eligibility.
Reconsideration
“The worse thing is how could (Zambo Jr.) exercise such power appointed to him by his wife, Mayor Arlene Zambo without the approval by the commission?” Remeticado added in his letter.
He attached photocopies of three checks with numbers 000146616, 000146617 and 000146618 dated March 23, 2007 and signed by Zambo Jr. in favor of Joan D. Layson, Gualberta C. Lapening and Remedios E. Belasoto.
In an interview with Sun.Star Cebu, Zambo Jr. said he was told by the Toledo City Government legal department that his appointment took effect on the day it was signed.
Zambo said that under the law, an appointment must be submitted not later than 30 days from the day it was signed. The appointment was submitted on March 29 yet because they still completed the other requirements such as drug tests.
Zambo said he will file a motion for reconsideration today. (EOB)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 26, 2007 issue)
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