Legal battle between Concepcion G. Briones and Mayor Sergio 'Serging" Osmena Jr
Concepcion G. Briones of the Gantuangcos's of Parian District, Cebu City an employee of the Cebu City Government since March 4, 1937, first from the Treasurer's Department then transferred on August 5, 1937 in the City Mayor's Office was ordered terminated from her position.
Concepcion, a first grade Civil Service eligible was issued a notice of termination by Mayor Sergio "Serging" Osmeña Jr. (son and namesake of Don Sergio Suico Osmeña) on February 23, 1956.
City Mayor Osmeña on January 4, 1956 sent a letter to the City Council to approve a proposed ordinance that would create new positions under his office. Among them were the position of Personal Secretary, Assistant Personal Secretary, Confidential Assistants, Liaison Officers and many others.
The City Council, with all members ran under his ticket, enacted his proposal and approved City Ordinance No. 192. The creation of the new positions however resulted in the abolition of the positions under the Mayor's Office. The ordinance enacted by the City Council on February 14, 1956 was approved by Mayor Osmeña on February 20, 1956.
Abolished were the positions held by Concepcion G. Briones and Faustino O. Rosagaran, a second grade Civil Service eligible, an employee of the City Government since July of 1940, then promoted as Administrative Officer in 1950 and adjudged as an Outstanding Employee of the City.
Concepcion, accompanied by her husband Engr. Democrito R. Briones and Faustino O. Rosagaran went to the courts. The Court of First Instance of Cebu granted their action for mandamus and declared the abolition of their positions null and void.
Mayor Serging Osmeña appealed the decision of the Court of First Instance to the Supreme Court. Justice J.B.L. Reyes who wrote the decision in behalf of the Supreme Court dated September 24, 1958 sustained the Court of First Instance.
The Supreme Court added that the reasons for the justification of the abolition of the offices of the Briones and Rosagaran were untrue and their terminations were without just cause and violates the Civil Service Law.
Later in life, Concepcion became the President Emeritus of the Association of Cebu Journalists and Executive-Director of the Cebu Newspaper Workers Foundation. After retiring from the government service, she wrote a column for THE FREEMAN.
In 1983, her book LIFE IN PARIAN was published with the assistance of the Cebuano Studies Center of the University of San Carlos. Concepcion was born December 8, 1915 in Parian, a descendant of the Gantuangcos, one of the oldest families who settled in the district.
A street formerly named GUERRILLEROS in the Veloso Subdivision, Guadalupe, Cebu City was renamed in 1995 after her, Concepcion G. Briones St.
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