A Cebu City Hall employee died allegedly after he was informed that he was going to lose his job as the mayor would not renew his employment. His distraught brother, a barangay captain, reacted strongly, saying that his relationship with the mayor has been severely damaged as a result.
Sought for comment, the mayor advised the city’s casual and job order employees not to listen to rumors and instead wait for formal advice, which will come after his administration has completed its review of the employees’ fitness to continue to be hired by the city government.
The incident should remind everyone of the perils of being a temporary government employee. Unlike their counterparts in the private sector, government workers do not enjoy security of tenure regardless of the number of years that they have been employed.
The situation reflects government hypocrisy. It’s a classic case of “do what we say, not what we do.” Thus, while companies are compelled to regularize employees who have served for more than six months, a government employee can be terminated without due process through the simple expedient of letting his contract lapse.
This has been the culture in government probably since the country elected its first local officials. Who was it who said that to the victor belong the spoils? This is nowhere more true than in local governments, where political patronage is the overriding principle in parceling out appointments.
An employee who lands a job at City Hall via this route should therefore always be aware of the impermanence of his tenure. You got your job because your candidate won. When he loses, you start packing your bags.
In fact, he should always be prepared to pack his bags even if the mayor or governor is an ally. You cannot foretell how the wind blows, and when it does, you cannot complain about its direction. It’s called prerogative. Of course, you can always withdraw your support and cross to the other side, but that’s another story.
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I read recently that the City is now removing electric and other poles that pose a threat to public safety and that it is under Councilor Jerry Guardo. I would like to report to Jerry that the pole beside our gate is ready to fall at any time. I’m sure Jerry has an idea of where it is since he used to be our barangay captain. If he doesn’t, he can always ask for directions from his wife’s (she succeeded him) barangay tanods.
I also would like to ask Jerry to drive around Sambag 1, especially Tormis St. I find it odd that while smaller roads are being repaired, Tormis has been abandoned. Potholes are evident in large parts of the road, and they’re not getting any smaller. Please, Councilor?