THE cat is out of the bag, so to speak. Gov. Hilario Davide III admitted that he did not renew the contracts of some job order employees assigned in the offices of the Provincial Board members who did not vote for the resolution authorizing him to enter into a contract with the winning bidder for the construction of the 20-story Capitol Resource Center inside the Capitol compound.
I wrote about this in my column last week after concerned employees sent me an e-mail. They claimed they were victims of Davide’s “resbak” (retaliation/revenge) against some PB members. They said Davide is politicking because he wants to pressure the PB to support his project.
In a SunStar Superbalita article, Davide admitted that he did not renew the contracts of 17 “organic employees” deployed to the offices of some PB members as doing so means the budget, which is sourced from the office of the governor, would already exceed its limit. He added that it is common sense for him not to renew the contracts as the job order employees will not work in favor of his administration but for the personal and political agenda of their bosses.
Though the governor did not admit that his move is retaliatory, it is obvious that he wanted to get back at the said PB members. These PB members were his former allies but when Rep. Gwen Garcia announced her candidacy for governor, they shifted allegiance.
Earlier, Provincial Human Resource Management Office Chief Bonifer Nacorda denied there was politicking in the non-renewal of the contracts of 17 job order employees claiming it was due to budgetary re-alignment. Unsay way pulitika sa iyang kagaral?
Davide said that it is his prerogative to renew the contracts of these employees being the appointing authority, more so because the budget for their salaries were taken from his office. “Why would I accommodate people who will not serve the interest of my administration but that of my political opponents?” he asked. “Ang-ang naman og these people will work for me, adto gyud na sa ilang gidapigan. It’s just common sense ba. Mosweldo ang Kapitolyo ining mga job order nila nga dili gani sympathetic and will not be working for us but for them, the other side. Sila mismo, they know this fact,” he added.
So Davide’s move is a plain and simple political vendetta. For me, it’s unfair for the affected employees. These employees are innocent. They have nothing to do with the decisions of their “bosses” in not supporting Davide’s ambitious project. Why crucify them?
Mind you, some of these employees have been working in the Capitol since during the past administrations. It’s only now that their contracts were not renewed. Asa man ang imong kasing-kasing ug balatian, Gob?
This is not a good strategy on the part of Davide. He is creating more enemies than friends. Without the support of the majority of the PB, his project will not push through.
Instead of pressuring them, why won’t he talk with them nicely and convince them about the importance of this project. If Davide wants to save money, terminate those highly paid consultants at the Capitol.