CSC to city: Restore worker’s position

CEBU, Philippines - The Civil Service Commission-7 has ordered Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to immediately restore the position of a City Hall employee who questioned his reassignment.

CSC-7 director Karin Litz Zerna said the orders and memoranda issued by Rama to William Cris Artajo “are not in order.”

“This Office (CSC) is not convinced that the reassignment to the Community Scouts Center and the Operation Second Chance as ‘concurrent head’ was done in the exigency of the service and in good faith, hence, it must be declared null and void,” read Zerna’s November 11 order.

Since Rama was placed under preventive suspension by the Office of the President effective last December 10, the media asked comments from acting mayor Edgardo Labella yesterday.

“I’m still going to read it. Of course, we have to follow the rule. We have to follow the law og unsa’y buhaton under the circumstances,” Labella said.

When asked if he could restore the original position of Artajo as ordered by CSC, Labella said he has yet to secure the opinion of the Department of the Interior and Local Government on the matter.

“But we will act on it objectively. Wala ko kahibaw sa case. I will peruse it. I will read the order of the Civil Service,” Labella said.

Artajo was originally assigned as department head of Management Information and Computer Services of the City Hall.

On January 3, 2012, Rama ordered Artajo as the Officer-in-charge of the City Environment and Natural Resource Office.

On July 2, 2012, Rama issued another memorandum terminating Artajo’s reassignment as CENRO chief and designated him as executive director of the Cebu City Community Scouts Commission.

On November 4, 2014, Rama directed him to report to Operation Second Chance in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City.

On December 29, Rama reassigned him as the concurrent head of the Cebu City Community Scouts Commission and the Operation Second Chance.

Feeling “aggrieved”, Artajo filed an appeal on November 25, 2014.  (FREEMAN)