Barangay captain complains over firing of garbage collectors

CEBU, Philippines - Cogon-Pardo Barangay Captain Eugenio Gabuya formally filed a complaint before the Cebu City Council against Councilor Eduardo “Edu” Rama for replacing the garbage collectors of the barangay without informing him.

Gabuya, an ally of the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BOPK), strongly criticized the actuation of the city councilor who is a nephew of Mayor Michael Rama because Gabuya said that the councilor has no power to appoint employees in the barangay.

Documents showed that it was Cogon-Pardo Barangay Councilwoman Orvilla Bacalso who requested Rama to replace their barangay garbage workers but she did not state the reason.

Gabuya said the resolution of the Cebu City Council “never vests upon any member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod the power to terminate and replace garbage collection personnel of the barangays being the power to appoint barangay workers is inherent with the barangay chairman.”

But Councilor Rama argued saying that replacing barangay garbage collectors who are receiving honorarium from the city is a prerogative of the mayor.

“Sayon ra man kaayo na sabton kay kon ang barangay maoy nagsweldo sa mga barangay garbage collectors, ang kapitan maoy mo-appoint apan ang maong mga garbage collectors gisweldohan sa City Hall, (That’s so easy to understand. If the barangay is the one paying the barangay garbage collectors, then the barangay captain will be the one to appoint them but those garbage collectors are being paid by City Hall),” Rama said.

Those garbage collectors who were replaced by Rama are Primo Sanchez Jr., Felomino Eran, Roger Betcher and Felix Radaza. They used to receive P5,000 honorarium from the city every month until their services were terminated last month.

They were replaced by Antonio Demetrio Sr., Arsenio Daugdaug, Ariel Bacalso and Lando Barabad.

Gabuya said he also filed criminal charges for usurpation of authority before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas against Councilwoman Bacalso because she never asked for permission from the barangay captain when she made the request to City Hall.

The City Council yesterday referred the matter to the Department of Public Services (DPS), and to the City Council’s Laws, Budget and Finance committees for comment. — (FREEMAN)