Personnel audit irks councilor

CEBU, Philippines - A member of the Cebu City Council cried foul over the alleged interference of a department head in the affairs of the legislative department.

City Hall personnel chief Mary Ann Suson was grilled yesterday by the members of the council during the budget hearing for alleged “breach” of protocol when she ordered personnel audit at the councilors offices.

 Councilor Alvin Arcilla questioned Suson’s action because she did not inform the councilors about it.

Suson, who was recently appointed as HRD head, tasked her staff to check all employees and personnel from the executive and legislative departments including those who are assigned at the councilors’ office for purposes of inventory.

“There was no courtesy at all. Nanghilabot naman ka sa among staff. Mura man hinuon ka og wala’y trust and confidence sa mga tawo nga among gibutang. To tell you frankly, kahibalo ko mopadagan sa akong mga tawo,” Arcilla told Suson before the budget hearing started.

  Suson told Arcilla that they were just conducting personnel audit. “What we are doing is an audit of the people inside the Office of the councilors,” she said.

Suson said that if the personnel will be out of the office, they should secure locators slip or secure a written memorandum from their respective head of office. 

But Vice Mayor Joy Augutus Young told Suson that her department belongs to executive and that she has no jurisdiction over the legislative department.

 “The point here is that you have no authority over the personnel of the Sangguniang Panlungsod,” Young said, adding that the next time they should ask permission from the Office of the Vice Mayor.

“The next time you do that, ang mga tawo ninyo nga mosulod sa among office among ipa-kick out,” Young told Suson. — THE FREEMAN