Indirect contempt charge filed against Mayor Durano

CEBU, Philippines - The 250 casual employees assigned at the Office of Danao City Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III asked the court to cite Mayor Ramon Durano Jr. and two City Hall department heads for indirect contempt for their failure to comply with the court’s order related to their unpaid salaries.

The Danao City Hall employees represented by Lawyer Guiller Ceniza filed the complaint against Mayor Durano and Galacito Camaongay, acting Human Resource Manager and City Budget Officer Teresita Almacen.

 Last July 26, 2012, Danao City Regional Trial Court Branch 25 Presiding Judge Sylva Paderanga issued an order granting the prayer for temporary restraining order against the three officials and also ordering them to desist from implementing the assailed memorandum dated July 9, 2012 issued by the mayor.

“That given the urgency of the matter, right after the posting of the bond, City Councilor Cynthia Duterte notified Mayor Durano and two department heads relative to the posting of the bond, in the same letter, requests and appeals for compliance thereof and for the payment of the salaries of the casual employees were made,” the complaint further said.

They added that the mayor and department heads’ refusal “seeks to bring down the authority of the court.”

They asked the court to impose all sanctions necessary to ensure that its order is complied with immediately, “ such as but not limited to imprisonment, when necessary.”

At present, the payment of salaries, wages and benefits of the city hall employees assigned at the Vice Mayor’s Office has not been implemented so the 250 employees continue to be deprived of their “sustenance and life-support for about more than three months already.”

The conflict between Mayor Boy Durano and his brother Vice Mayor Nito started a month after the 2010 elections because of differences in running the affairs at city hall.

The two camps have filed recall petitions against each other although the Commission on Elections, citing the lack of funds, decided not to push through with any recall elections. - THE FREEMAN