No advance notice for fired casuals

CEBU, Philippines - The three casual workers who were fired from the Cebu City Women’s Commission last Tuesday yesterday criticized Mayor Michael Rama for the way his personnel implemented the termination order.

Maricar Tariman, Ike Parinasan and Ronilo Patalinghug visited The FREEMAN editorial office yesterday claiming they were not given advance notice that they would be terminated.

“Gihatagan unta mi nila bisan og napulo ka adlaw aron makapangita mi og laing trabaho dili kay pakalitan lang mi,” said Tariman.

Parinasan also said they were on duty last Aug. 1 when the memorandum signed by Human Resource and Development officer Evangeline Abatayo was served to each of them.

It was not mentioned why the three workers, who were recommended by Councilor Lea Ouano-Japson, were terminated from their jobs.

But Parinasan believes politics is behind their dismissal because Japson is not an ally of Team Rama but of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan.

Tariman argued that it was stated in the memorandum order that their contracts were not renewed, but she said this is inaccurate because their contracts were renewed already and would expire on Dec. 31 yet.

Patalinghug said they worked hard because there were only four workers assigned to the Women’s Commission office and their executive director resigned weeks ago.

“Wala gayud mi mag-apil-apil sa politika kay matud sa mayor basta motrabaho lang ug dili moapil sa politika, dili mataktak. Apan naunsa na man hinoon ni?” said Parinasan.

Aside from the three, 71 other City Hall casual employees have been dismissed since January after their contracts were not renewed, according to the personnel records.

Parinasan narrated that when his eight-year-old son learned that he was already terminated, the boy voluntarily offered to reduce his P30 daily school allowance by P5, which nearly made him cry.

“Kahilakon ko nga nagtan-aw sa akong anak nga nahingawa gayud tawon nga wala na’y trabaho ang iyang amahan,” Parinasan said.

Rama earlier said he does not want to work with persons who are corrupt, lazy or those who belong to or support his enemies.

But Japson said she believes that the three workers were terminated because Rama is not sure that they were his supporters.   - THE FREEMAN