Labella's opinion: Tanod who works at City Hall is getting double compensation

CEBU, Philippines - Since the Cebu City Council committee on laws and the Cebu City Legal Office have conflicting opinions on the double compensation issue of a tanod who also works at City Hall, Councilor Edgardo Labella said it is up to the tanod of Kamputhaw whom to believe.

The committee on laws in last Wednesday’s session disagreed with the opinion from the city legal office which states that Romeo Oljol is not liable for double compensation.

The legal office states that there is no employer-employee relationship between Oljol and the City Government.

The legal office also said that the money Oljol receives from Kamputhaw, where he is a tanod, and from the City, as a job order worker, are both honoraria that can be considered as a gratuity for services rendered, not salary nor wage.

But Labella, chairman of the committee on laws, believes there is a “prohibited additional, double or indirect compensation” in the case of Oljol.

“I just hope that the concerned tanod will take heed of our finding. If it will be questioned, he will be made answerable for it,” Labella said.

In a committee report, Labella said that the remuneration received by Oljol being a job order employee and a barangay tanod is not a gratuity for services rendered.

Labella said that gratuity is defined as a gift or present, usually of money, often in return for favors or services, the amount depending on the inclination of the giver.

As a job order employee of the City, Labella said Oljol is receiving wages computed based on the time he spends on the job.

“Oljol’s remuneration as a job order worker is in compensation for the work he renders to the city and not a gift or present given freely or without recompense,” he said. — (FREEMAN)