Probe starts vs Quisumbing over transfer of PWD staff

CEBU, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has started its investigation in the criminal and administrative complaints filed against Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis “Luigi” Quisumbing over an alleged illegal reassignment and transfer of a social worker to another office.

Michael Allan Pielago, 44, a resident of Purok Tambis, Barangay Umapad, Mandaue City, alleged he was assigned to an office which is "separate and distinct" of his former job.

Allegedly, after he was transferred to the Housing and Urban Development (HUDO), he cannot perform his daily task because of his disability.

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Paul Elmer Clemente informed Pielago on February 13, 2019, acknowledging receipt of the complaints now docketed as OMB-V-C-19-0066 and OMB-V-A-19-0077.

Clemente ordered Pielago to submit certified true copies of his attached documents of the complaints he filed against Quisumbing.

Quisumbing was sued for a violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act, violation of Section 32 paragraph (f) of Republic Act 7277 or Magna Carta for Disabled Persons and oppression.

"Should any of your attachments be mere machine copies of original documents, kindly submit certified true copies to supplement the same," read the letter.

Pielago is a person with disability who uses crutches as his support.

Lawyer Mae Elaine Bathan, chief of staff of the mayor, earlier said Pielago was transferred to HUDO because the said office “greatly requires” social worker.

She said the HUDO requested for a social worker who would assist in conducting the social preparation of the informal settlers and members of the Urban Poor.

Pielago was appointed as a social welfare officer III of City Social Welfare Services Office (CSWO) by former Mayor Jonas Cortes in September 2014.  Since then, he had been practicing his profession as a duly licensed public social worker.

However, on January 11, 2019, he received a memorandum from Quisumbing reassigning him to HUDO, which is located at the 2nd floor of the Mandaue City Hall Annex Building, along A. Del Rosario St., Centro Mandaue City.

Bathan said Pielago’s disability did not prevent him from performing his task. (FREEMAN)