City hall swamped by JVR’s relatives

CEBU, Philippines - Some Liberal Party supporters in Talisay City have expressed displeasure after learning that some of Mayor Johnny De los Reyes’ relatives, including those allegedly from Mindanao have descended on city hall to work.

Supporters say the mayor broke his promise to employ them and was unfair of him to prioritize his relatives.

The city administrator is John Yre De los Reyes, the mayor’s son, whose secretary is also a relative.

His wife also works in his office.

Joel De los Reyes, the mayor’s elder brother, is now the head of the motor pool.

Another daughter-in-law of the mayor, the wife of barangay Bulacao Councilman Clifford De los Reyes, works at the office of Pastor Solomon Paypa, whose office is under the Office of the Mayor.

Pastor Paypa is the legal consultant of the mayor.

The mayor’s driver is a cousin.

De los Reyes also has relatives who now work as market cleaners and some are assigned to some departments.

Some suspect the mayor has already employed consultants.

City Councilor Dennis Basillote told reporters it is but normal for whoever is mayor to hire relatives, but De los Reyes should have the decency to pick constituents over relatives.

However, De los Reyes yesterday confirmed having relatives at city hall but made it clear they are not in the payroll yet.

He said some relatives will return to Mindanao as soon as he finds people he can trust to replace them.

The mayor has assured that his relatives will be gone after 100 days. By then, he would have found people that can be trusted.

For supporters who have not been hired by city hall, the mayor recommends that they apply for work at the Mactan Economic and Processing Zone, which is looking presently for more than 1,000 workers.

The companies at MEPZ would accept job applicants from Talisay, he said.

De los Reyes said the alleged consultants at his office don’t receive salaries because they were not hired.

He said some friends have volunteered to work for him.

Recently, the mayor had ordered a decrease in the number of job orders to be hired from almost 2,000 to 1,200.

De los Reyes said only 1,200 job orders have been allowed to work by the department of budget.

Meanwhile, Hazel Bathan, chief of the human resource office of Talisay said the mayor is allowed to hire 525 job orders.

Each barangay captain is given three to five quotas while the department heads are given two quotas each.

The vice mayor has 100 quotas while the seven opposition councilors, ex-officio, and chairman of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) are given 50 quotas each. The three administration councilors are given 75 quotas each.

Bathan said no consultant has been hired by the mayor since she has not received documents such as contract of service from the city legal office.

Bathan said hiring relatives as job orders is left to the mayor’s discretion.

He cannot be accused of nepotism unless the relatives are given regular positions.

The mayor cannot hire more than seven confidential employees.

Their employment is considered over as soon as the mayor’s term ends.

Each confidential employee receives P500 per day.  (FREEMAN)