CEBU, Philippines - For failure to act promptly on letters and requests within 15 working days, the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has reprimanded a senior probation and parole officer.
Graft investigator Maria Corazon Naraja found substantial evidence against Violeta Abella of the Parole and Probation Administration of Region 7, Cebu City based on the complaint filed by her co-worker administrative aide IV Naomi Pepino.
In her complaint, Pepino said on Mar. 3, 2011 she verbally requested the respondent for photocopies of her leave cards and statement of her leave credits, but no action was taken.
This prompted complainant to write a letter requesting the respondent for the photocopies of her leave credits through Regional Director Ofelia Quijano on July 27, 2011.
Considering she did not receive any advice about her request, she again wrote Quijano on August 22, 2011
However, she said on Sept. 12, 2011 in relation to her request, she heard respondent reportedly say “This can wait! Why do I have to prioritize this? I do not have time for this!”
Pepino added the respondent was called by assistant regional director Al Cainglet by telephone regarding her request but the latter complained.
“I cannot do this! Why do I have to prioritize this? Do you think I am just sitting idly here?” the respondent allegedly said.
Moreover, Pepino said she told respondent to answer her letter but the latter complained. She said when she reminded respondent that the letter should be answered within 15 days she was told “whatever, whatever, whatever.”
In her counter-affidavit, Abella said it was not Mar. 3, 2011 when complainant requested for her leave cards but in November 2010.
She said it was only on Feb. 1, 2011 when Quijano designated her as leave card officer.
Abella said it was on Jul. 27, 2011 when she learned about the case.
She said she worked on the request of the complainant and it was on Sept. 13, 2011 when she finally accomplished the computation of complainant’s leave credits.
“Abella insists that she could have refused to act on complainant’s request that RD Quijano gave a standing order to stop giving quarterly leave credit balances to all PPA RO7 employees but she refrained from doing this,” respondent’s counter-affidavit read.
However, Naraja said in her resolution that based on the evidence presented it was established that respondent failed to act on the letter within 15 days.
She added respondent should have also observed proper courtesy.
“As regards the incident on Sept. 12, 2011, this Office finds the complainant’s account of what transpired largely uncontroverted. The utterances made by the respondent towards the complainant manifest a disrespectful attitude that has no place in the bureaucracy,” the decision read.
Naraja warned respondent Abella that a similar violation in the future shall merit a more severe penalty. – (FREEMAN)