Tomas sacks SPEED worker

For loss of confidence, Mayor Tomas Osmeña ordered for the termination of one of the employees of the Squatters Prevention and Encroachment Elimination Division.

The mayor said he signed the other day the termination papers of Eldie Concha, assigned at the SPEED as community affairs assistant-I.

When asked by reporters for the reason why he fired Concha, the mayor replied: “No need to justify, he is no longer needed.”

Osmeña also said that he does not want to get into the details of what Concha had done.  What he pointed out is that Concha deserves to be terminated from his services in City Hall.

There were reports that Osmeña had received a lot of complaints against the employee which prompted the mayor to fire him from his post.

But Osmeña admitted that former city councilor and now Basak-San Nicolas barangay captain George Rama received several complaints from sidewalk vendors regarding the alleged illegal activities of Concha.

Meanwhile, the mayor also admitted yesterday that he received complaints from sidewalk vendors against his urban poor consultant Gerry Marquez.

But he came to the defense of Marquez, saying it is normal for complaints to flow with the kind of work Marquez is handling.

“I still have confidence in him that’s why he is still there.  With that kind of position, it is just normal,” Osmeña said.

Despite the negative reports he received about Marquez, the mayor said he will not order for an investigation against him because he “does not want to be suspicious of Marquez’ undertakings.”  - Wenna A. Berondo/MEEV