City Hall employee suspended for dishonesty

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña suspended a City Hall employee for one month for dishonesty for punching the daily time record of her fellow worker four months ago.

Glynis Alingasa owned up to the offense when she agreed to the request of Engr. June Nadine Sison to punch her daily time record last July 13.

But Alingasa, assigned to the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW), was caught by City Hall personnel while on the act of punching the card into the machine.

She then asked forgiveness and promised not to commit a similar offense, prompting the members of the Employees Complaints Investigation (EMCOI) to only recommend a one-month suspension against her rather than dismissal from service.

Lawyer Marie Velle Abella of the city legal office who investigated the case said the Civil Service Commission is very strict about the rule that any government employee found guilty of dishonesty, even if it is a first offense, will be dismissed from service.

But the EMCOI, composed of city administrator Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez, personnel officer Ralph Sevilla and Abella, gave Alingasa a chance to reform by only recommending her suspension for 30 days.

Osmeña, who signed the suspension order last October 27, said it will serve as a warning to other employees who are also doing illegal activities.

A few months ago, a member of the Mayor’s Management Team (MMT) assigned to the Cebu City Medical Center was apprehended by the security guards for punching the DTR of another employee.

However, days after he received an order for him to explain about his wrongdoing, the casual employee voluntarily resigned from his job. – Rene U. Borromeo/LPM   (FREEMAN NEWS)