Evidence on alleged BOPK use of 200 CH workers incomplete

Opposition candidates in Cebu City have failed to gather enough evidence to prove their claim that "about 200 City Hall employees are being used to campaign for the candidates of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan."

Cebu City south district congressional aspirant Jonathan "Atan" Guardo tasked lawyer Salvador Solima to collate all the needed documents for the filing of electioneering charges, but Solima yesterday said only 10 of said employees have so far been identified.

"Nagsige pa mi''g tigum og mga ebidensya," said Solima, who is one of the opposition candidates for councilors of the city''s south district.

But a City Hall official said if Guardo was indeed telling the truth when he announced that these employees are helping in the BOPK campaign, it would not be difficult for Guardo''s camp to get their names.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who leads the BOPK, said he learned that some casual employees had already tendered their resignation from their work at the City Hall to help in the campaign.

The law states that, "government workers found guilty of engaging in partisan politics might face dismissal from public service."

Civil Service Commission regional director David Cabanag said government workers are strictly prohibited from engaging in any partisan political activity or from joining mass actions.

Cabanag also said since it is the right of a person to choose who to vote for, government workers are not prevented from doing so. But he added that they must remember that as public servants, they are prohibited from endorsing or campaigning for political candidates. - Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV