City Hall worker sues Quisumbing

CEBU, Philippines — Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing is facing criminal and administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for transferring an employee to another office.

The worker, Michael Allan Pielago, 44, said his new post is “separate and distinct” of his former job and that Quisumbing’s decision to transfer was a form of oppression.

Pielago said he could not perform his tasks at the Housing and Urban Development Office owing to his disability.

“Mayor Luigi Quisumbing knows exactly where HUDO is located… This reassignment has rendered it very difficult and hard for me to report to HUDO as I would need to negotiate and climb up and down three flights of stairs every day,” Pielago’s complaint reads.

HUDO is located at the second floor of the Mandaue City Hall Annex Building.

Pielago uses crutches as support. He said he has no idea why he was reassigned to HUDO.

“Mura bang killing me softly!” he said.

“Paghatag sa memo, naka-state didto na I am now reassigned. Unya, kung imo tan-awon sa ako lang na personal na pagsabot, mura ba og gituyo siya in the sense na election period starts sa Sunday, so ig Monday, which is 14, wala nay reassignment. Wala nay transfer,” he added.

Pelagio claimed he is non-partisan.

He sued Quisumbing for allegedly violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Republic Act 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, and oppression.

He contended that Quisumbing violated the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons because he allegedly “clearly discriminating the terms and conditions of his employment by reason of disability” and intended to make it difficult and impossible for him to perform his present job.

The mayor’s chief of staff, Atty. Mae Elaine Bathan, said Pielago was transferred to HUDO because the office “greatly requires” a social worker.

“As a matter of fact, such move was pursuant to the request from such office for a social worker who would assist them in conducting the social preparation of the informal settlers and members of the Urban Poor,” Bathan said.

Pielago was appointed as a social welfare officer III of the City Social Welfare Services Office (CSWO) by former Mayor Jonas Cortes in September 2014. – Jahzeel Willow S. Coquico (FREEMAN)