Former town mayor may soon get paid

CEBU, Philippines - After five years, it would seem the former mayor of Minglanilla town will finally get his terminal leave benefits of about P300,000, the municipal treasurer said.

In a letter sent to former Minglanilla mayor Marlo Hedwigo Cañada yesterday, municipal treasurer Wilfredo P. Alidon asked Cañada to give him a five-day extension while he processes his terminal leave credits.

For his part, Cañada said if he has waited for five years, "then five days would just be fair and reasonable."

Cañada in 2005, less than a year after he was defeated by his former vice mayor Eduardo Selma in the mayoral race, asked the Office of the Ombudsman for assistance for the release of his leave credits which he believes has reached to about P300,000.

Cañada served as councilor from 1992-2001and then mayor from 2001-2004.

He ran for re-election in 2004, but was defeated by the comebacking Selma.

It was Selma, right after he assumed , who had his monetary benefits frozen reportedly because of alleged irregularities during Canada's stint as mayor that Selma wanted investigated.

Because of the delay of the investigation, the former mayor went to the Ombudsman and asked the anti-graft office to intervene.

It was during this intervention by the anti-graft office that municipal engineer Nestor Sotes was slapped with a three-month suspension, which started last August 16, for neglect of duty.

Sotes was also investigated since he was ordered by Selma to inspect Canada's five projects, which allegedly misused the town's more than 2,000 bags of cement, which were reportedly intended for another project.

The five projects were undertaken sometime in 2003, and Sotes only had them inspected in 2006.

The Ombudsman also found inconsistencies in Sotes' two inspection reports which he submitted to its office to supposedly substantiate claims that there was irregularity in Canada's projects.

Sotes is set to come back this November 15.

Cañada wrote Alidon a letter last week asking him to release his "long overdue" benefits within five days "from receipt hereof."

And now it seems that Alidon is heeding his request.

Canada only hopes that after the five-day extension would lapse, he would finally get his benefits.

But should Alidon fail to act on his request, Cañada said he will file again administrative, criminal and civil action against Alidon with the Office of the Visayas Ombudsman.

In an administrative case he filed before the anti-graft office, Alidon and Selma were acquitted from it. (FREEMAN)