“Kung way padanlog, dugay kaayo mahuman”: Councilor says office prone to corruption

CEBU, Philippines — Councilor Noel Wenceslao admitted there were “problems among some of the staff” under the Cebu City Assessor’s Office during his previous stint as city assessor.

“Actually, yes, there were some problems with the staff before,” said Wenceslao during a news forum yesterday, a day after his appointment as overseer of the City Assessor’s Office.

Last Monday during the flag-raising ceremony, acting Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia said some members of Cebu City’s legislative body were given executive functions and were tasked to oversee some of the departments in the city for faster public operations.

In a press conference right after the ceremony, Garcia elaborated his announcement saying that it was motivated through the manifestations of the city councilors to help him as acting mayor.

Among the councilors that Garcia has already talked to is Wenceslao who will be overseeing the Cebu City Assessor’s Office considering that city assessor, Maria Theresa Rosell is among the seven officials who were slapped with a six -month preventive suspension.

Wenceslao, who was also a former city assessor, said that during his time, there were some “problematic” staff inside the office. He added that the City Assessor’s Office is prone to “bribery and corruption”.

“We have to understand that kay sensitive man ni nga ahensya. That’s why diha sa assessor katong gitan-aw namo nga problematic, gi-transfer g’yud namo og laing department for the regular, ang katong mga casual and JO, wala na gi-renew, that’s what we did before,” said Wenceslao.

This time, as he was appointed overseer of the City Assessor’s Office, he is recommending to implement the same.

Wenceslao, however, expressed his gratitude to the other staff of the office who are efficient of their respective jobs.

He cited that just recently Garcia received a message of gratitude from one constituent wherein a tax declaration was recently issued after it was left pending for five months.

“So we have to thank those people who are really working very hard,” said Wenceslao.

He also said that he will be emphasizing to the staff to hasten the operations inside the office.

“Naa man gu’y uban nga kung way padanlog, dugay kaayo mahuman,” said Wenceslao. — (FREEMAN)