COMELEC legal officer asks for allowance

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council’s committee on budget and finance has endorsed the request of Commission on Elections (Comelec) legal officer Enerio Ocariza who asked that he be given P5,000 monthly allowance.

Being the Comelec’s regional legal officer in Central Visayas, Ocariza’s responsibilities includes assisting the Comelec field office in resolving legal questions pertaining to the continuing registration activities and other legal problems relevant to their daily routine operations.

Ocariza wants to be also given an allowance equivalent to the amount given to Cebu City election officers Marchell Sarno and Edwin Cadungog.

Committee chairperson Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña said the granting of allowance to Ocariza is allowed by law as she cited Section 458 (1) (xi) of the Local Government Code which states, “When the finances of the city government allow, it shall provide allowances and other benefits to judges, prosecutors, public elementary and high school teachers and other national government officials stationed in or assigned to the city.”

The abovementioned provision of the law is the city council’s basis in approving and granting the monthly allowances to both Sarno and Cadungog.

 But while Osmeña’s committee has favorably endorsed the request of Ocariza, she said it is subject to the approval of Mayor Michael Rama and would also depend on the availability of funds.

Meanwhile, the committee on budget also endorsed the approval of the request of five Regional Trial Court (RTC) employees who are assigned to social works who wished that their existing monthly P2,500 allowance be increased to P5,000. (FREEMAN)