Friday, April 18, 2008 Soc approves recommendation to suspend worker
TALISAY City Mayor Socrates Fernandez approved the recommendations of a special committee dismissing a regular employee and suspending his co-worker for six months in connection with a sexual harassment case.
Fernandez said he concurred with the decision of the 11-man committee on decorum and investigation (Codi), describing the inquiry as “lengthy and extensive.”
“I adopted the decision of the committee because I believe that it’s fair,” he said.
Sun.Star Cebu learned from City Administrator Richel Bacaltos that the dismissal of Alberto dela Cuesta and the suspension of Lorte Cabrera took effect last April 11, the same day the mayor made his concurrence.
Had Fernandez not issued the order, the one-month suspension of the two accused would have been lifted on that day, he said.
“They would have resumed their work at City Hall last Monday, Bacaltos added.
Suspension
The Codi earlier placed dela Cuesta and Cabrera under one-month preventive suspension pending the results of its inquiry.
With the mayor’s concurrence, Bacaltos said the complainant, a married street sweeper, has the option now to pursue a criminal case against the two.
Investigated
The Codi investigated dela Cuesta and Cabrera for alleged violation of Republic Act 7877, or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995.
The alleged victim accused Dela Cuesta, her superior, of sexually abusing her in the latter’s office at the Talisay Gymnasium in Barangay Poblacion for nearly a year.
Cabrera was included in the case as the victim also accused him as dela Cuesta’s cohort. Cabrera would allegedly call her up to go inside dela Cuesta’s office.
Both dela Cuesta and Cabrera are regular City Hall workers assigned to maintain parks and plazas.
Sun.Star also learned from Councilor Shirley Belleza, a Codi member, that the committee members were not unanimous in coming up with its decision following dela Cuesta’s claim that he had an affair with the complainant.
It was Sun.Star Superbalita that first reported the story, wherein the victim was reportedly forced to perform oral sex in exchange for the approval of her daily time record. (GC)
