Cotabato CENRO sacked

KORONADAL CITY , Philippines   – A community environment and natural resources officer (CENRO) of a South Cotabato town has been removed from his post after he allegedly failed to attend the flag-raising ceremony.

In a text message to The STAR yesterday, Mila Locsin, chief of the regional public affairs division of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Central Mindanao based here, confirmed that Efren Hibaler was relieved from his post as CENRO of Banga town.

Locsin, however, did not say if Hibaler’s removal was due to his failure to attend last Monday’s flag-raising ceremony.

She said Hibaler was removed from his post based on DENR Regional Special Order No. 11-009 dated Jan. 11, 2011 issued by DENR-Central Mindanao regional executive director Alfred Pascual.

Locsin said Pascual appointed Jerry Dalauta as the new CENRO of Banga, one of the towns in South Cotabato’s upper valley area.

Pascual reportedly issued the memorandum order directing Hibaler to vacate his post after his “surprise visit” to Hibaler’s office in Banga town last Monday morning.

Pascual is reportedly conducting surprise visits to DENR offices in the entire region “to get to know the employees,” being the newly appointed DENR head in Central Mindanao.

A Bombo Radyo report said Pascual was surprised that nobody was present, except the janitor, when he went to Hibaler’s office last Monday morning.

In a radio interview, Hibaler defended himself, saying he was late for work because of a parade in Koronadal City, which marked its 71st foundation anniversary that day.