City Hall has new HR chief

CEBU, Philippines - Since the Cebu City Council did not confirm the appointment of lawyer Mary Ann Suson as the chief of the Human Resource Development Office (HRDO), Mayor Michael Rama yesterday immediately replaced her from the position.

Suson was replaced by Celso Esteban Jimenea, the assistant department head II of the HRDO.

“In the exigency of service, you are hereby designated as officer-in-charge, effective immediately,” Rama stated in the memorandum addressed to Jimenea. 

Suson no longer reported for work yesterday as she was on leave. The mayor is reportedly planning to put Suson at the legal department of the City Attorney’s Office.

Last January, the Council did not confirm the appointment of Suson as head of the HRDO, citing that she lacked the experience.

It was City Councilor Sisinio Andales who moved for the non-concurrence of Suson’s appointment, saying that she only had six months of experience as officer-in-charge.

The councilor also denied speculations that the move had something to do with Suson’s policies. He added that there are “no fast rules” on concurrence of appointments.

HRDO covers the entire City Hall, Andales said, so Suson should be immersed in the job for a reasonable amount of time just as regular employees undergo a probationary period.

Last year, Suson got the ire of Vice Mayor Augustus Young and some members of the City Council for conducting an audit on the employees of the City Council. —(FREEMAN)