House won’t remove lawmaker over ‘ghost’ employees

MANILA, Philippines - The leadership of the House of Representatives is not likely going to implement the Office of the Ombudsman’s order to dismiss Quezon City Rep. Francisco Calalay, who was found to have employed “ghost employees” when he was still councilor of the city.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the dismissal order no longer covers Calalay, who is now a member of Congress.

“We have no intention of removing him as congressman at this stage,” Belmonte told reporters, adding he believes the lawmaker will run to the Court of Appeals to seek a temporary restraining order on the Ombudsman’s directive.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales found Calalay and Councilor Roderick Paulate of guilty of falsification of official documents, serious dishonesty and grave misconduct.

Investigation showed the two councilors have a total of 60 ghost employees, who allegedly worked as field inspectors, district coordinators and office aides.

“(The officials) tend to show that they knowingly or willfully used their positions in placing under the employ of the local government of Quezon City, several ghost employees, and receiving their salaries, wages and other emoluments for their own personal gain,” the Office of the Ombudsman said.