CITY Social Welfare and Development Officer Elsa Santillan has been dismissed from her post by Mayor Benjamin Lim for dishonesty, grave misconduct and serious neglect in the performance of duty.

In a 10-page decision dated November 24, 2010, Lim, adopting the recommendation of a five-man investigative committee he created on her case, found Santillan administratively liable.

The members of the investigation committee, headed by his administrator Vladimir Mata, are Atty. Roy Laforteza, assistant city legal officer; Alan Dale Zarate of the City Assessors’ Office; Administrative Office 1V Lorenzo Daroy and Remedios Vidal, executive assistant IV of the City Mayor’s Office.

Santillan had began reporting back at the DSWD office last week after a 60-day preventive suspension imposed on her had lapsed on but not as its chief since the designated officer-in-charge was kept in her post.

The case stemmed originally from sworn affidavits executed by three persons about the presence of expired goods at the CSWDO warehouse. Then another set of witnesses alleged that they were paying up to P300 monthly to Santillan and Josephine de Vera for store spaces they occupied inside the DSWDO.

Santillan, in her defense, claimed that many of the affiants had recanted their statements as they were only allegedly pressured by Mata to sign the affidavits implicating her in anomalies.

She also presented a letter from former Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. allowing the use of the open space at the CSWDO compound by the “needy sector”.

Santillan had moved for Mata’s inhibition from the hearing but this and a subsequent appeal were denied by the committee.

This prompted the Santillan and her lawyer, Atty. Teodora Cerdan, to walk out of the hearing, saying that in refusing Mata’s inhibition, the committee cannot be expected to be fair in its investigation and judgment.

The walkout led the committee to consider her absence in the proceedings as a waiver on her part.

Subsequently, Santillan filed an administrative complaint against Mata before the Civil Service Commission, and a separate criminal complaint before the City Prosecutors Office.

Lim said the fact that Carlota Laparan, Roda Remuto and Nida Ramos were allowed to occupy various areas inside the CSWDO compound and operate their small businesses while paying various amounts of fees or rent to the CSWDO remained undisputed.

He said that there being no sufficient explanation or justification presented to counter the adverse testimonies of the witnesses, he is convinced of the findings and recommendation of the investigative committee finding Santillan guilty of the illegal acts imputed against her.

Santillan could not be reached for comment at presstime but an earlier report quoted her as saying that she intends to appeal her dismissal before the CSC.

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