Santiago retires as deputy ombud

CEBU, Philippines - Employees of the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas find the retirement of Assistant Deputy Ombudsman Virginia Palanca-Santiago a big loss to the institution.

Santiago has to leave her post as she turned 65 yesterday, a compulsory retirement age for government workers.

Administrative Assistant Susana Samson expressed her gratitude to Santiago for beeing a mother to them in the office.

She added Santiago was a good public servant having an untarnished integrity and for being very hardworking.

 “She arrives in the office earlier than us. Though it’s beyond office hours, you can still see her working,” she said.

 “I will miss her so much for the kindness and the good deeds that she has shown to us,” Samson said.

“I wish her luck,” said graft investigator II Alejandro Borden who also described Santiago as very motherly.

Security guard Lilibet Hernan finds Santiago very accommodating.

Santiago said she has no greatest accomplishment in her 16 years with the Office of the Ombudsman.

 She said she is just an ordinary employee who works hard for the office.

She admitted receiving threats because of her job but she lifts everything to God.

She reminds the employees of the Visayas Ombudsman to their office should maintain its stand not to accept any gift.

Santiago said she has no plans yet after her retirement but she wants to visit her son in the United States.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama expressed his opposition to the idea of abolishing the assistant Ombudsman post, saying the position is needed in case the Ombudsman himself is absent.

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol was earlier quoted as saying that he seeks for the abolition of the post, saying he has directors who can help him.

Apostol and Santiago reportedly has a misunderstanding.

“I don’t think it would be good, kung wa diha ang Ombudsman, kinsa may

mopuli?,” he asked, during a press conference at his office yesterday.

“Even managers have their assistants and even the assistants have their own assistants to do the tasks they would leave behind when on leave to avoid backlog of work,” Rama added.

The mayor is confident that the national heirarchy of the Ombudsman can resolve whatever issues Apostol and Santiago have.  (FREEMAN)