BFP-7 director faces raps

CEBU, Philippines - A female fire officer has filed a complaint against the regional director of the Bureau of Fire Protection before the Civil Service Commission and the Department of the Interior and Local Government following her transfer from the regional office to the Sogod Fire Station where she was designated as fire truck driver.

Fire Officer 3 Marissa U. Cariño, a nurse by profession, is asking the CSC and DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo to investigate BFP-7 director Ma. Luisa Hadjula for possible abuses in the exercise of her power.

Cariño is likewise praying for the intervention of Robredo to stop her transfer to Sogod town. The 44-year-old fire officer said that it is awkward for a female to be designated as fire truck driver.

In fact, she could be the only female fire truck driver in Central Visayas, if not in the entire country if her reassignment is permitted.

Hadjula issued the order for Cariño’s transfer last December 22 yet but it was not immediately implemented because the latter has availed of a sick leave. Cariño has been on leave for more than two months already because she underwent a medical operation.

Cariño acknowledged that the reassignment of personnel is Hadjula’s prerogative being the regional director but she described her transfer to Sogod as inhuman considering her condition.

Cariño said that she is supervising her three children alone because her husband is working abroad. According to her, reporting for work in Sogod which is 60-kilometers away from Cebu City would mean absence from her children.

Cariño, who used to be Hadjula’s assistant, said she did not know what makes the official decide to have her transferred to Sogod. Before becoming Hadjula’s assistant and driver, Cariño was assigned as clerk at the investigation division and was later transferred to the communication center.

After several months of being with Hadjula’s office, Cariño was promoted as acting head executive assistant and was also designated as member of the BFP Regional Personnel Placement Board, taking charge in the recruitment and promotion of personnel.

Hadjula, in an interview, said Cariño is needed in Sogod because the town’s fire station needs additional driver for its fire trucks. Hadjula specifically directed the fire chief in Sogod not to assign Cariño to clerical works.

“Nag-activate ako ng mga bagong fire stations sa ilang lugar at masyado malayo ang Malabuyoc para sa kanya. Masyadong malayo din ang Pilar, Bohol. Its part of the service at wala akong choice. Hindi dapat mamili kasi kami sa BFP sa ranggo namin di nilagay kung ano ang posisyon namin at kung saan kami ilalagay ( I have activated new fire stations in other places and Malabuyoc is too far for her as well as Pilar and Bohol. .. I have no choice because we have no specific place of assignment),” Hadjula said.

Hadjula threatens to file an administrative complaint against Cariño if she continues to defy her reassignment order.

 “Kung kinakailangan ang magdemanda ng mga tao ko that is my disciplinary authority. Inuunahan niya ako kaso yari siya sa akin,” Hadjula said. —/FPL (FREEMAN)