Ex-vice mayor sues mayor, municipal accountant

CEBU, Philippines - Former Sogod vice mayor Dean Severo Dosado has filed a complaint against Mayor Lissa Marie Durano-Streegan and acting Municipal Accountant Erlita Montecalvo for their refusal to process his terminal pay.

Dosado filed before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas yesterday a complaint for abuse of authority and violation of Republic Act 6713, also known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Employees.

Dosado, who has served as municipal vice mayor of Sogod from 1995 to 2001, claimed that he earned leave credits during this period.

Last August 14, 2014, Dosado sent a letter to Streegan requesting to have his terminal leave pay processed.

On September 8, Montecalvo sent a letter reply duly noted by Streegan to Dosado denying the request.

Montecalvo, instead, reminded the former vice mayor of his cash advances from the municipality, which he has not yet settled up to this time, the reason they could not grant his request without first submitting a general clearance.

“Again, we are reminding you to settle your cash advances within five days from receipts hereof otherwise we will be constrained to file the appropriate criminal case against you,” Montercalvo, in her letter, told Dosado.

On September 17, Dosado sent another letter reiterating his request and with a suggestion that whatever would be the amount approved for his terminal leave pay shall be deducted for the liabilities and payables he may have with the municipality to settle the issue.

According to Dosado, the document needed for his request is at the concerned department.

“Mas labing maayo nga unta makahulam ko sa mga papelis nga gigamit ni anhing Mayor Deo Durano sa pagkubra sa iyang terminalp leave pay arun akung sundon ang maong mga dokumento,” he said.

Dosado was vice mayor of the late mayor Thaddeus Durano, the father of Streegan.

Dosado has given Streegan and Montecalvo five days to grant his request, but such went unheeded, prompting him to seek assistance from the Ombudsman-Visayas. — (FREEMAN)