THE Dagupan Sangguniang Panlungsod’s (SP) decision on the designation of Mary Ann Solomon as City Agricultural Officer is now moot and academic, after the council failed to confirm or deny her appointment within 15 days from submission.

However, Councilor Alfie Fernandez, a member of the majority and chair of the SP committee on civil service appointment, said while no confirmation or denial was issued, the majority furnished Mayor Belen Fernandez and the Civil Service Commission a manifesto of agriculture officers from various Pangasinan towns questioning the character of Solomon before the 15-day deadline.

The appointment paper of Solomon was submitted to the SP for confirmation on July 18. The council held regular sessions weekly yet it did not take up the matter on Solomon. The majority bloc also did not call for a special session to take up the appointment.

City Secretary Ryan Ravanzo said that per instruction of Councilor Redford Erfe Mejia, he sent the manifesto to the mayor and the Civil Service Commission in both Western Pangasinan and Urdaneta City two or three days before the expiration of the 15-day period.

Councilor and Minority Floor Leader Michael Fernandez argued that the manifesto is not in the form of a resolution nor a manifestation of denial or confirmation as required by Article 433 of the Local Government Code, adding that the manifesto could be given due course since it was not verified or subscribed before a notary public by the signatories.

Meanwhile, the human resources department of the Bureau of Fisheries and Natural Resources (BFAR) regional office issued a certification attesting that no administrative or criminal case had been filed against Solomon, who served as provincial officer of the BFAR in Pangasinan.

As of August 7, Solomon was carrying out functions as agriculture officer by accompanying the mayor in related activities, based on her social media page. (Leonardo Micua)

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