Nueva Ecija town workers receive salaries after 8-month delay

PANTABANGAN, Nueva Ecija, Philippines – At least 250 employees of the municipal government finally received their salaries after waiting for eight months due to a leadership crisis at the town hall.

Mayor Ruben Huerta said only 65 percent of the employees received their salaries. The others, including those from the office of the vice mayor, will have to wait for their turn.

The delay in the release of the salaries stemmed from the refusal of dismissed mayor Lucio Uera to vacate his post after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) installed Huerta in June.

Following Uera’s dismissal by the Office of the Ombudsman for grave misconduct, municipal treasurer Elvira Gonzales did not report for work. 

The case against Uera stemmed from his order to suspend and terminate 44 employees nine years ago.

Due to the delayed wages, the employees were compelled to borrow from loan sharks in order to finance the needs of their families.