Former Lapu VM guilty of oppression

CEBU, Philippines -  Former Lapu-Lapu City vice mayor Mario Amores was found guilty of oppression by the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas after allegedly using his power to demote a regular city employee.

The Office of the Ombudsman Visayas found sufficient evidence that Amores used his authority to oppress the complainant Erlinda Chan.

Former Ombudsman Maria Merciditas Gutierrez ordered Amores suspended for six months and one day without pay and benefits, but then declared the ruling moot and academic as he no longer held the position.

However, Gutierrez ruled “let the records of the case be forwarded to the Civil Service Commission, Regional Office 7, Cebu City, for the initiation of proceedings with regard to recall of complainant back to her original post at the Office of Vice Mayor.”

Chan served as an Administrative Aide III with the city council under the authority of Amores.

But on February 2009 she was transferred to the Health Center in Barangay Olango and then again to the Health Center in Barangay Caubian, a remote island, without consent and consideration for her diabetes.

Chan said she repeatedly asked Amores for transfer but she was denied, she went to the assigned office but was later forced to file sick leave because of her health condition and even underwent a surgical procedure.

Chan claimed Amores deliberately transferred her harass her son, Junard Chan, who was a councilor allied with the opposition.

In his counter-affidavit, Amores said he only knew about the health condition of Chan after she submitted her medical certificate, adding that diabetes cannot stop her from having a regular life with proper medication and diet.

Amores also said when Chan felt she could no longer do her job then she should have considered resigning as the management has the right to reassign its employees.

However, Gutierrez ruled “the office cannot see why respondent failed to accommodate complainant’s pleas despite her poor medical condition.”

She added “undeniably, complainant is a woman nearing retirement age who deserves special consideration due to her physical condition, regardless of her illness.”(FREEMAN)