City treasurer told to stay put

CEBU, Philippines - The Bureau of Local Government-Finance has advised Acting Cebu City treasurer Tessie Camarillo not to relinquish her post even if Mayor Michael Rama had already designated another person to head the City Treasurer’s Office.

BLGF-7 Regional Director Carmelane Tugas sent Camarillo a letter in response to her communication last November 11 informing the BLGF of her desire to relinquish her post after Rama appointed assistant city treasurer Emma Villarete to replace her.

In her reply to Camarillo’s letter, Tugas said Villarete cannot act as In-Charge of Office because her designation as acting assistant city treasurer for administration had expired already and has not been renewed.

“For the time being that there is no order issued by this office, you cannot relinquish your position because as assistant city treasurer, you shall automatically assume as the chief of office in the absence of the city treasurer,” Tugas said in her letter dated November 14.

However, Tugas said they endorsed Camarillo’s letter to BLGF executive director Presentacion Montesa about the matter.

Villarete did not deny that her designation as assistant city treasurer had expired already, but she explained that she just complied with the order of the mayor.

“I am performing the duties pursuant to the memorandum and office order issued to me by the city treasurer. In effect, I’m performing the functions de facto. All those functions are approved and confirmed by the city treasurers in my performance evaluation,” Villarete said.

Rama, who was in Manila yesterday, said he will try to settle the matter once he comes back.

“Nganong mo-insist man g’yud sila nga wala na man ko’y trust and confidence sa usa ka tawo? Hain na man ang autonomy diha?” Rama said as he reiterated his plan to bring up the issue before the Supreme Court.

Reacting to Rama’s plan to proceed to the High Tribunal to install Villarete as head of the City Treasurer’s Office, Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said “He can always make himself a fool twice.”

But Rama, who is a lawyer, shrugged off the comment saying “Sagdi lang kay dili man kana sila mga abogado.”

Young earlier said while the mayor has the prerogative to recommend his choice to become the city treasurer, his power is only recommendatory and it is the Department of Finance, through the BLGF, that has the power to appoint the treasurers.

Rama said he lost his trust and confidence in Camarillo after she said she cannot assure that the proposed P11.8-billion executive budget of the city next year will be attained. 

Camarillo was quoted in reports that the city will earn only P7 to P8 billion next year, this despite the fact that she certified the Statement of Receipts and Expenditures of the proposed 2012 Annual Budget.

The BLGF-7 also told Rama yesterday they cannot act yet on his request for a new OIC treasurer until they get a reply from their central office in Manila.

In the same communication, Tugas also confirmed the power of the secretary of finance through BLGF to appoint a treasurer and designate an ICO or OIC Treasurer.

She also said that under Department Personnel Order No. 335-03 and Section 12, Chapter Two, Book 1 of the Local Treasury Operations Manual, the power to designate a Treasurer is expressly delegated to the regional directors of LGF, subject to the confirmation of the Executive Director of BLGF-DOF.

Some city officials questioned why the BLGF has to consult its office in Manila while the job to appoint and designate has been delegated to the regional director.

They said that the fact that the mayor is given the chance to endorse three names he or she wants to be designated as the treasurer should tell already that trust and confidence of the official to the next treasurer does matter.

Rama, citing the urgency of the matter to ensure continuous delivery of services and regular operations in the Local Treasury, designated Villarete in charge of Office of the Treasury effective November 14.

But this designation was not recognized by the City Council which still recognizes Camarillo as the OIC Treasurer of Cebu City. — (FREEMAN)