Panaligan said he ordered the dismissal from office of City Administrator Ernestina Bernabe-Carbajal and City Legal Officer Phidias Emmanuel Ramos and replace them with people he knows.
"As acting mayor, I now have the authority to choose the people who will be working with me closely at City Hall. The city administrator’s role is crucial in the sense that some of the mayor’s tasks are delegated to him or her. I need to appoint someone who has my confidence," he said.
Panaligan said Carbajal was replaced by lawyer Sonny Quial while he is still looking for someone who can assume the post of city legal officer
Meanwhile, Carbajal decried Panaligan’s actions, saying they are against the civil service rules.
Carbajal said she has filed a petition before the Pasay court to question the acting mayor’s actions.
Panaligan earlier said that appointees at City Hall will be evaluated to determine if they are to be retained or not. However, in the case of career service officers, their security of tenure will be recognized.
A week ago, Panaligan ordered acting Pasay police chief Senior Superintendent Marietto Valerio to facilitate the removal of policemen assigned to detachment posts around the city.
He said that since part of the tasks of policemen at detachment posts is to ensure the safety of the mayor, he would want to assign people with whom he is familiar.
Panaligan assumed office following a suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman against Trinidad, Vice Mayor Antonino Calixto and 10 councilors over an alleged anomalous garbage collection and disposal contract. They were suspended for six months without pay.
Panaligan, acting Vice Mayor Arvin Tolentino and Councilors RJ Cabrera and Marlon Pesebre are the only members of the City Council not suspended by the Ombudsman.