Eastern Samar mayor suspended for 6 months

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has placed an Eastern Samar mayor under six-month preventive suspension in connection with a complaint that he has refused to comply with orders of the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro said the case against Taft Mayor Francisco Adalim stemmed from his alleged refusal to reinstate 23 employees of the municipal government.

Sometime in 2005, Adalim terminated the 23 employees when they reportedly went on absence without official leave.

Feeling aggrieved, the dismissed employees brought their case before the CSC regional office, which decided in their favor and ordered Adalim to reinstate them to their respective positions and pay their back salaries.

Adalim appealed the ruling to the CSC regional office, which granted his motion. However, the CSC central office eventually reversed the ruling and upheld the original reinstatement order.

Adalim was eventually charged with oppression, neg-lect of duty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.