JVR snubs ultimatum on city workers’ return

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes has ignored the 24-hour demand of Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante to reinstall the confidential and job order employees of his (Villarante) office and the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Villarante made the demand after De los Reyes issued on December 2 a memorandum cutting down the job order quota of the vice mayor’s office from 100 to two and each of the seven councilors from 25 to two.

City councilors allied with the mayor allegedly got to keep their quota of 25 confidential and JO employees each.

De los Reyes said it is within his power to appoint all officials and employees whose salaries and wages are wholly or mainly paid out of city funds, as provided for under the Local Government Code.

“Records of the Talisay City government show that all existing job orders are hired by the Local Chief Executive and this can be terminated at any time with or without case by the city mayor in accordance with civil service law, rules and regulations,” said De los Reyes, in his December 4, 2014 letter addressed to Villarante.

The vice mayor has warned that De los Reyes’ refusal to approved his request will force the SP to seek urgent lawful remedies.

“You are, however, given the freedom to seek any urgent lawful remedies while exercising utmost courtesy and decorum,” De los Reyes said in his letter, apparently in to the warning.

Villarante said the power of the vice mayor to appoint job order employees under the programs and activities of the legislative department had already been settled in the case of Ramon M. Atienza versus Jose T. Villarosa, and in the case of former Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who was suspended due to a similar circumstance.

But  De los Reyes said the case cited by Villarante does not apply to the situation since all job orders and confidential employees of Talisay City are hired by the city mayor.

“The power to appoint carries with it the power to remove. This is very basic,” De los Reyes said.

Villarante alleged that the development is a form of vengeance by the mayor over the City Council’s refusal to grant De los Reyes authority to get a P350-million loan for the construction of the new Tabunok public market.  (FREEMAN)