Tom orders dismissal of tardy CH worker

Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday ordered for the immediate dismissal of a casual City Hall employee assigned to monitor drug cases filed with the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office and the courts for being always late in reporting for work.

Eli Espina admitted to reporters that for several times he reported for work late because he was attending to the needs of his family. He said he would sometimes attend meeting of the officers of the City Hall-run Bayanihan Credit Cooperative for which he is the auditor.

Osmeña earlier issued a memorandum prohibiting City Hall personnel, including department heads, from attending committee meetings within office hours.

He said because they are receiving per diems for such event, City Hall personnel should attend any committee meeting after office hours.

But Espina allegedly failed to heed the directive of the mayor and was even found out to be inefficient in his job.

After learning of Espina’s constant tardiness in reporting for work, Osmeña immediately instructed secretary Agapito Cugay Jr. to prepare for the documents dismissing Espina from his job.

“Kon duna pa kamo’y mahibaw-an nga City Hall employees nga magbinuang sa trabaho, palihug i-report nako,” said Osmeña, who added that casual employees would be dismissed once they commit any infractions.

About half of the 5,000 City Hall employees are casual, which means that their services are co-terminus with those who appointed them to the position. - Rene U. Borromeo/LPM