CAGAYAN de Oro Water District (COWD) acting general manager engineer Bienvenido Batar Jr. on Monday, June 4, said senior architectural draftsman Emmanuel Mulawan Sr. has been allowed to report back to work.
Mulawan, who is facing rape charges in Cavite, reported for work Monday, June 4, after he posted bail for his temporary liberty.
He was detained at a jail facility in Cavite for more than three years since his arrest last 2015.
Batar said the position of Mulawan was never declared vacant since the case is yet to be resolved.
He said he already instructed the administrative department to arrange the time of duty and other employment records of Mulawan.
“Nakaanhi siya sa ako last Thursday. Maayo man iyang lawas and nagsulat siya nga he would like to work again. Wala pa man judgment so he is presumed innocent hangtod mahuman ang kaso (He went to see me last Thursday. He seemed okay and he told me he wants to work again. His case is still not resolved so he is presumed innocent),” Batar added.
Batar said a government worker may continue working as long as he or she is not yet convicted of a crime.
But should the court find Mulawan guilty, he will be dismissed from service and the administrative case will automatically commence.
Batar also said the management will not prevent Mulawan from expressing his views and opinions pertaining to COWD transactions as long as he will not overstep the bounds of law.
Before Mulawan was arrested, he was known as the whistleblower when he came forward and publicly exposed the questionable transactions of COWD including the bulk water supply contracts with the Rio Verde Water Consortium which was terminated early this year.
Batar said he advised Mulawan to be more circumspect and to slowly adjust to work life again.
“I find him a good worker. Wala pud koy nakita nga affected mi personally sa iyang mga gibuhat sauna (His past comments also did not affect us personally),” Batar said.