Poblete needs no council confirmation

CEBU, Philippines - The members of the Cebu City Council yesterday agreed that they do not have to concur to the appointment of Engineer Jose Marie Poblete as acting city engineer because his appointment was co-terminus in status.

The city council resolved the issue during its regular session yesterday where Poblete was required to appear.

"We don't have to concur," said Councilor Eugenio Gabuya. 

According to the council, the concurrence was not needed because Poblete's appointment will also end as soon as the term of Mayor Mike Rama ends.

Poblete was designated by Rama as OIC City engineer but is holding a plantilla for information officer 4. He will be receiving an annual compensation of P511,824 excluding allowances.

"I have the designation and I already have an appointment," Poblete told the members of the council.

Poblete used to be the city administrator but was replaced by engineer Eugene Elizalde, former chief of the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC).

Poblete's appearance before the council yesterday initially brought confusion among the councilors on which position he sought to be confirmed.

"Confirmation of what as OIC city engineer or information officer and so we are confirming for what?" Councilor Hanz Abella asked.

Poblete himself was confused and could not answer the question from the council.

 "I don't know. We don't need to split and we can harmonize things. If there's an error to the appointment, let's resolve it," he said.

In the end the councilors agreed that they do not need to confirm Poblete's appointment. — (FREEMAN)