By Leonardo Micua

 

IT doesn’t take one to study law to understand what members of the majority of the Sangguniang Panlungsod are doing to the employees of the Dagupan City government when the majority bloc said they would be violating the subjudice rule of the court if they pass the proposed supplemental budget for their special recognition incentive and gratuity pay.

It was their absurd alibi this time for not passing the ordinance that grants incentives and gratuity pays to employees. But the fact is, they never approved any supplemental budget sought by Mayor Belen Fernandez since day one of her new administration. It’s already too obvious that their determination to pull her down is a payback for defeating their patron in the 2022 election.

Recall that Supplemental Budget No. 1 in 2022, and the Supplemental Budget No. 1 and 2 for 2023, were not given due course by the seven-man majority.

When they invoked the subjudice rule of the courts, it was biggest lie of the majority to the employees and the Dagupeños. As pointed out by City Legal Officer Aurora Valle, there was no case filed questioning the passage of the 2023 appropriations ordinance in any trial court in Dagupan City. And no person was required by the judge to respond to a summon or was issued a gag order to any party. So how can the seven-majority invoke the subjudice rule as the reason to deny the legitimate claim of employees to their special recognition incentives and gratuity pay, which benefits are provided for in Executive Order No. 12, series of 2023 signed by President Marcos?

No wonder, the seven councilors did not dare allow Atty. Vale to speak during the special session after invoking the subjudice rule.

Poor Dagupan. It’s only in this city that has not delivered the benefits due its employees at the end of the year. All employees of LGUs, except Dagupan, were granted these benefits without question.

So, nobody can blame the employees if they decide to seek legal action against the councilors who denied them their right to their financial benefits. And they cannot be criticized either for saying that the majority is ignorant of the law and the rules of court.  (I was told by a colleague that if one of the majority bloc who invoked such rule is a lawyer, that member could be accused of not knowing his law and may face disbarment proceedings).

Hence, if the filing of a complaint that may actually be the best option left to the employees who know it is their right to receive the P20,000 and P5,000.  It hurts them that the majority bloc deprived them and their families of this benefit last Christmas.

Julius Castanares Alcaide, administrative officer III at  the Dagupan City Treasurer’s Office, admitted he has been meeting with his co-employees about this option and they hope it will be supported by City Legal Officer Valle.

Alcaide recalled that the last trance of their salary increase as provided for by the law, hang in the balance over a long period and was only implemented when the appropriations ordinance that enacted the P1.3 billion annual budget was passed through God’s will.

However, the majority continues to question the passage of that ordinance to this day even if most of that annual budget were already disbursed and spent by the administration of Mayor Belen.

With Dagupan relegated from its number one position as one of the most progressive city in Pangasinan to a tail-ender because of the plotting and scheming of the seven majority to sabotage the Belen administration, it would not be farfetched to believe that they will be dropped in the 2025 polls by Dagupeños.#

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments