Salubre not fired, only reassigned

CEBU, Philippines - A day after her public announcement that she fired provincial treasurer Roy Salubre for loss of trust and confidence, Acting Cebu Governor Agnes Magpale yesterday clarified that the official will remain at the Capitol.

Magpale however said Salubre will be reassigned to another department. Magpale said she requested a replacement of Salubre from the Bureau of Local Government Finance.

“There are several departments where we can assign him,” Magpale said.

Pending the appointment of the new treasurer, Magpale has designated assistant treasurer Emmanuel Guial as officer-in-charge.

Magpale was criticized by the camp of suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia for firing Salubre because it is not within her authority as acting governor.

Garcia cited Section 46 of the Local Government Code which states that when the governor is temporarily incapacitated to perform his duties for physical or legal reasons such as, but not limited to, leave of absence, travel abroad, and suspension from office, the vice-governor shall automatically exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the local chief executive concerned, except the power to appoint, suspend, or dismiss employees which can only be exercised if the period of temporary incapacity exceeds 30 working days.

Magpale told reporters that they already have made a query before the Department of Interior and Local Government regarding her official duties and functions.

Lawyer Czareem Joseph Estella said that the DILG ruled that the acting governor can exercise the duties and functions because the suspension of Garcia is more than 30 days.

In citing the general rule, Estella said that Garcia might have misinterpreted the law.

Magpale said that she has been very careful in performing her duties as acting governor.

“I’ve been very prudent in issuing such as memos (sic),” Magpale said.

Magpale claimed that Salubre  committed  lapses in his financial report prompting  her  to request for his replacement. — (FREEMAN)