Erap to remove 700 ‘ghost employees’

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said yesterday he will remove at least 700 “ghost employees” at the city hall.

“These ghost employees, who belong to Republic Act 15-30, report to the city hall every 15th and 30th of the month to get their salaries. They are earning salaries from the city government without doing anything,” he said in a forum yesterday.

Estrada said the ghost employees are all appointees of former mayor Alfredo Lim and their appointments are covered by job orders or JOs.

“I have removed some of them. They are 700. All Lim’s loyalists. I will retain those JOs whose positions are still needed by the city government,” he said.

Estrada said the city government, which was left bankrupt by Lim, is tightening its budget.  

“One-third of our income goes to salaries and wages. That is why we are belt-tightening,” Estrada said, adding that paying the salaries of these ghost employees “was draining the city coffers.”