Tom: No P30,000 for prosecutors

It’s a big no!

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said that he will not grant the request of the prosecutors for additional allowance from the city government, because of the messenger that relayed such request.

Assistant Cebu City Prosecutor Mary Ann Castro, however, refused to comment on the issue that she is the reason why Osmeña rejected the request for additional allowance to be given to city prosecutors.

   Osmeña yesterday expressed a firm stand that he will not grant the request for additional allowance especially that the request came from Castro, who was quoted in a local daily saying that she is appealing to the city government for the same allowances provided to city judges in behalf of the city prosecutor’s office.

   “You know, the moment I saw the picture of her face there, to me, that’s automatic No. S**t, double s**t,” Osmeña said when sought for comment on the appeal.

“I would not touch her with a 10-foot pole. Even if she pays me P30,000 a month, I will not accept,” he said.

Osmeña is aware that Castro, whom he publicly dislikes, is not the only prosecutor at the City Prosecutor’s Office but he insisted that having chosen somebody like her to represent the whole office is like reflecting the kind of judgment they have.

“Yes, she’s not the only one. But it shows their sense of judgment. It shows their sense of values. And they will pick someone like her to represent them? The answer to me, I don’t know,” Osmeña said.

He said the thought makes him want to freak out and said that it just made him think about the city prosecutors as undeserving.

It is not the first time though that Osmeña decided not to increase the allowance of city prosecutors.

Just recently, the outgoing mayor did not increase their monthly allowance after prosecutors opted to inhibit from the libel case Osmeña filed against businessman Jonathan Guardo for accusing the city of blocking the distribution of relief goods to residents of barangay Carreta.

Guardo sought for their inhibition due to doubts that the prosecutors would be unbiased on the case because they are receiving allowance from the city government.

But City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon denied that Castro was voicing out the sentiments of the whole City Prosecutor’s Office.

“Personal na niya nga sentiment, dili ang official stand sa opisina,” Sellon said.

But even with this explanation, Osmeña’s answer remains a “no.”

“Anyway, it’s for the incoming mayor and councilors to decide,” Osmeña said.

Mayor-elect Michael Rama already said earlier that he cannot decide on the issue until he is able to determine if the city can afford to give such as there are other priority expenses.

Sellon said that the rest of the prosecutors are not asking and will not even force the city government to give them additional allowance apart from the P5,000 a month they are already receiving.

He admitted though, that any additional allowance will be welcomed.

“As for our salary, wala man siguro’y muingon nga sakto ra. Of course, we will be happy for any additional (allowance),” Sellon said.

The city judges also did not really ask for the additional allowance, but the city voluntarily offered the amount. Sellon said that they will just wait.

He also clarified that he has not authorized any letter of request that will be submitted to the mayor.

Castro appealed on Wednesday for an additional P30,000 allowance from the city government to get the same amount that the city judges recently received.

She said that there is a legal basis to her appeal as Republic Act 10071 or the Prosecution Act provides that the prosecutors shall have the same qualification for appointment, rank, category, prerogatives, salary grade, and salaries, allowance, emoluments and other privileges. —/NLQ   (FREEMAN NEWS)