Traffic enforcer loses job for “politicking”

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Hall will no longer renew the appointment of traffic enforcer Michael Abellana when it will expire tomorrow, on the ground that Abellana has been suspected of engaging in partisan politics favoring the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BOPK).

Celso Esteban Jimenea, assistant head of the City Hall’s Human Resource Development Office (HRDO), confirmed that the City will no longer renew Abellana’s employment pending further investigation to be conducted by them.

Abellana, a resident of Barangay Sawang Calero and has been connected with the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) for long time already, claimed that he religiously did his job as traffic enforcer by always reporting on time to his post.

“Wala g’yud ko mag-apil-apil sa politika, trabaho ra ko kay mao may giingon sa mayor nga basta dili lang mamolitika ug dili kawatan ug ligoy dili g’yud mataktak sa trabaho,” Abellana said when he was interviewed over DYLA yesterday. (I was diligently doing my work and did not engage in politics because the mayor had said that as long as we work hard and avoid politics, we will keep our jobs.)

Abellana’s name was not among the 13 CITOM enforcers that were recommended for non-renewal of their employment after they were found positive of illegal drugs.

CITOM executive officer Rafael Yap also confirmed when interviewed by The Freeman that Abellana has no derogatory record. He also attested that Abellana has been punctual in reporting to his posts as reported by the field supervisors.

According to Abellana, he learned that a barangay captain close to Mayor Michael Rama was the one who influenced that his employment will not be renewed.

Jimenea, though, begged off from commenting on this report.

“Dili usa ko mo-confirm ana kay susihon pa nako kun tinuod ba. Kun mahibaw-an nga wala siya mamolitika, i-reinstate ra man ‘sab nato siya,” Jimenea said. (I could not confirm that because I still have to check. If the allegation against him is found to be untrue, we can reinstate him.)

Abellana said there was a time that he had attended a “pulong-pulong” conducted by the candidates of BOPK, the opponents of Team Rama headed by the re-electionist mayor, but he denied that he engaged in partisan politics.

The mayor earlier admitted that he does not want to employ at City Hall people who campaign against him and his allied candidates. “Kun tua sila dapig sa akong mga kontra, utong lang sila og dili mangampanya,” the mayor had said. (Even if they support my opponents, they should not campaign.) – (FREEMAN)