Ecija woman mayor fires 2 unfaithful employees

CABIAO, Nueva Ecija — "Bawal ang immoral sa bayan ng Cabiao (Immoral people are taboo in Cabiao town)."

With these words, this town’s woman mayor has declared an all-out war against philandering husbands and unfaithful wives. And to drive home her message, she fired two municipal employees found engaged in illicit relationships.

In what she described as her crusade against loose morals and infidelity in government, Mayor Gloria Crespo-Congco, a devout Catholic, said her campaign will spare no one, even her own political allies.

"I may sound too idealistic but I’ll bring (morality) back to the good old days. I mean business. We need to be role models to our constituents," she said.

To show her resolve in weeding out immoral employees, Congco said she gave the pink slip to two employees found engaged in extramarital relationships.

"They have no place in the municipal hall," she said.

She said she has also advised barangay chairmen to be good family heads for their own good.

Unlike some politicians, she said she discourages them from drinking liquor, much less sponsor drinking sessions. In fact, she said she has never allowed a single beerhouse in Cabiao.

Congco said the crackdown on immorality is also part of her administration’s campaign to forge strong family ties.

She said the town celebrates Family Day with an essay-writing and logo and slogan-making contests.

She said the municipal government is working with the Catholic Church for the formation of barangay pastoral councils on value formation, adding she has made a number of home visits to personally ask parents to join her crusade.

"If all of us mayors will put our act together, we can elevate morality to new heights," she said.

Congco said they are putting emphasis on fidelity because there is no substitute to a healthy family, adding she is waging her campaign by setting herself as an example.

"Your advice will not be effective if you don’t live by example," she said.

She said her townmates could emulate her late father, former mayor Greg Crespo. "One thing you could be proud of my father was his fidelity to my mom and respect for women. He never smoked, was religious and always prayed the novenas," she said.

She said her father, even though he was mayor, tended to odd jobs and took care of little things such as cooking meals and feeding their hogs before reporting to work.

The "grand old man" of the Crespos served as town executive from 1960 until his death in 1987.