Jobs given to family members of suspended Mandaue workers

CEBU, Philippines — Family members of the 26 suspended city officials and job-order (JO) employees, who were suspended for nine months without pay, are now working in City Hall, as promised by Mandaue City Mayor Glenn Bercede.

The 26 suspended officials were also invited to the mayor’s office yesterday to check on their situation.

To recall, these employees were suspended after the Office of the Ombudsman found them administratively guilty of “conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.”

In an interview, executive assistant Miguel Lumapas told reporters yesterday that at least one family member of each suspended employee was given a job in City Hall to help them cope with the economic challenges they faced after the suspension.

“Gimingaw si Mayor Glenn sa iyang mga JOs, atong mga tao, gikamusta lang niya ang ilang kahimtang,” said Lumapas.

Lumapas said that the provision of work to the family members is a follow-through of Bercede’s promise to continue the city’s support, as they lost their livelihood.

“Nagsugod na sila, wala sila napakyas ato nga promise,” said Lumapas.

Lumapas said that the family members started working earlier in March, just days after their relatives were suspended in February.

He said they hired those who were eligible and capable of working in positions suitable to their skills and capacities. The jobs were assigned based on where they are most suitable, not necessarily in the same office as their suspended relative.

While serving their suspension orders, some of the workers have been finding ways to make a living, with some resorting to becoming habal-habal drivers.

As reported, the motion for reconsideration filed by the 26 officials and JO employees of Mandaue City is still pending before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Maria Priscilla Melendres and Maritoni Melendres, who accused the officials and employees of unlawfully padlocking and implementing a notice to demolish a disputed property in Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City, on May 3, 2023.

The complainants filed criminal and administrative cases against Housing and Urban Development Office head Johnbee Biton, assistant city assessor Julius Ceasar Entise, Janitorial and Security Services Unit head Teodorico Montojo II, Janitorial and Security Services employee Pedrito Inalem, and 22 other City Hall workers.

Apart from the administrative motion for reconsideration, the respondents had previously filed a motion in their criminal case on February 6, 2025. The Ombudsman also found probable cause to indict them for violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, on July 9, 2024. — (FREEMAN)