ILOILO CITY, Philippines — A group of barangay captains and residents traveled 33 kilometers from Igbaras town in Iloilo to this city only to find the Office of the Commission on Human Rights–Region 6 at the Iloilo Sports Complex closed on Thursday.
The group belonged to the Quipot Area Coordinating Council, an organization of cluster of barangays in Igbaras composed of Pinaopawan, Igcabugao, Tigbanaba, Passi, Bagacay, Binanua-an, Corucuan, Lab-on, Bagay, Bugnay and Igtalongon.
Their hours of travel to submit their complaints, against some NPA members who earlier almost killed a resident, however came to nothing when they arrived to find door of the CHR-6 office padlocked.
No one in the area could answer their inquiries on where the CHR-6 personnel where or if there was a holiday on that day.
Minutes later, a reliable source told the media that the CHR-6 employees were allegedly having their Christmas party at an undisclosed location in Guimaras island.
CHR-6 regional director David Bermudo could not be reached over his mobile phone also.
On Tuesday, the Civil Service Commission-Region 6 issued a reminder on Christmas celebration of government offices.
CSC-6 director Rodolfo Encajonado said it would be perfectly all right to hold a Christmas party because it is a privilege of employees provided for by the government.
Encajonado however advised that a government office should not be closed and that a skeletal force will be assigned to receive requests and queries from the public.
He further left it to the head of office to do the necessary delegation of duty if they will hold their Christmas party during office hours.