Fate of 95 JOs remains in limbo

CEBU, Philippines – Mayor Johnny De los Reyes “deliberately refused” to sign on the request of Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante on the issuance of punch cards and entry cards for 95 job order (JOs) workers.

De los Reyes yesterday insisted that he will review and screen all the 95 job order employees for the Legislative Research and Codification Project under the Office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

"I talked to (SP Secretary) Miggy (Enjambre) regarding the Legislative Research and Codification Project and it was suggested nga naay screening nga mahitabo," city administrator John Yre De los Reyes, son of the mayor, said.

Based on the initial assessment he made on the names submitted by the vice mayor, John Yre noticed that some JOs are not fit for legislative research as some of them are not even graduates.

The 95 job order personnel including the three plantilla workers under the Office of the Vice Mayor and two plantilla and confidential staff of the 11 councilors have not yet received their salaries.

Villarante, a lawyer by profession and council presiding officer, warned the mayor that he and the majority members of the council will file a formal complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for abuse of authority and violation of Republic Act 6713, also known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Employees.

"We are now observing 10 days starting February 1 to act on our request. If wala'y action, ang konseho na gyud ang mokiha niya," Villarante said, stressing that there were no "political accommodations" in hiring the 95 job order workers since their main task was legislative research.

Villarante pointed out that Legislative Research and Codification Project is very essential and critical to the operation and performance of the legislative department.

"Dili na kinahanglan og taas nga qualification, ang importante nga motrabaho gyud," the vice mayor said.