CEBU, Philippines - Like a game of musical chairs, there is another change in the Treasurer’s Office of Cebu City.
This as the Department of Finance (DOF) relieved acting city treasurer Ofelia Oliva from her post and reappointed Tessie Camarillo.
Camarillo replaced Oliva when she was relieved last year and Oliva relieved Camarillo recently.
The move of the DOF has incensed Mayor Michael Rama, who said that he wasn’t informed of the order to relieve Oliva.
Rama said he was shocked when he received the letter reportedly coming from Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima relieving Oliva from the Cebu City Treasurer’s office and again designating Assistant City Treasurer Camarillo as acting city treasurer.
Rama called up Purisima, through his mobile phone, and told the secretary that it was a “bad move” when he relieved Oliva from her post without the courtesy of consulting the mayor of the city.
Although Section 470 (a) of the Local Government Code provides that the treasurers shall be appointed by the Secretary of Finance, but it is clearly stated that the name of those who will be appointed should come from a list of at least three ranking, eligible people, who are recommended by the mayor, but subject to civil service law, rules and regulations.
The same provision also said that the treasurer shall be under the administrative supervision of the governor or mayor, as the case may be, to whom he shall report regularly on the tax collection efforts in the local government unit.
Rama got angry and instructed City Legal Officer Joseph Bernaldez to study what legal actions can be made against Purisima and other DOF officials, who issued the relief order for Oliva without consulting him.
While he does not want Vice President Jejomar Binay to be involved about the issue, but Rama said he informed the country’s second top official on the matter and Binay shared his sentiments.
Rama said Purisima told him that the reason why Oliva was relieved is because she is under investigation by the DOF-Revenue Integrity Protection Service for alleged unexplained wealth.
The Freeman tried to contact Oliva yesterday, but she did not reply. She and her assistant treasurer are in Manila attending a seminar with all treasurers and assessors from all over the country.
Records showed that in 2008, then Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez placed Oliva under a six-month preventive suspension for allegedly accumulating unexplained wealth worth P14 million.
Oliva used to be the treasurer of Cebu City from 2001 up to 2004 before she was assigned to Pasay City and some other places in Manila. Somebody filed a case against her for dishonesty and grave misconduct.
The complaint said that from 1972-2006, Oliva only filed her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth for the year 2004.
Although some of her former colleagues in City Hall would not believe that Oliva has millions of pesos worth of properties, but the complaint alleged that Oliva “committed perjury” when she denied under oath that she owns real property and motor vehicles.”
The finance officials submitted documents to support allegations that the respondent owns residential lots and houses in Paradise Village, Barangay Kasambangan and along Alviola St. in barangay Tejero all in Cebu City.
The Ombudsman also found out that, based on the documents obtained from the Land Transportation Office, there were vehicles registered under Oliva’s name. These are a 2004 Mitsubishi (YBR-261); a 1996 Mitsubishi Gallant (GHW-158); and a 1994 Volkswagen (GBB-508).
In an earlier interview with Oliva, she said the case has been resolved already, because it was found out that there is another woman also named Ofelia Oliva that owns the questioned properties.
It was then mayor and now Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña, who earlier asked Purisima to relieve Oliva, because she is already overstaying.
The DOF has its own rules and regulations regarding reassignments and designations of the Officer-in-Charge that after one year of assignment in a city, the treasurer can be granted only two more extensions to her posts at six months per extension.
Oliva was first designated as OIC Treasurer of Cebu City last July 16, 2009 and her first term ended on January 15, 2010. Her term was extended for six months that ended July 15, 2010.
Osmeña reminded Purisima that Oliva’s term as OIC-Treasurer of Cebu City was again extended for another six months that expired last January 15, 2011.
After Oliva’s relief in the middle of last year, she was reappointed to Cebu City but again was ordered relieved. — /NLQ (FREEMAN)