Two residents of Caramoran have filed administrative complaints against their local chief executive and a member of Sangguniang Bayan over the promotion of a close relative in violation of existing laws, rules and regulations against nepotism in the civil service.
In similar complaints submitted before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Oct. 28, 2020, Helen Trinidad of barangay Baybay and Vicente Salvidar Jr. of Sabangan claimed that on Sept. 1, 2020, Virgie A. Onan, sister-in-law of Mayor Glenda V. Aguilar as well as sister of Councilor Josue Aguilar and the mayor’s husband Jose, was promoted as Administrative Assistant IV of the Municipal Planning & Development Office.
They submitted as evidence copies of the Personnel Selection Board certification signed by the mayor and attested by the councilor as PSB member, Oath of Office of Onan signed by the mayor as the appointing authority, and three other documents all signed by the chief executive.
The appointment is in violation of Section 59 of the Administrative Code of 1987 and Section 79 of the Local Government Code of 1991, which described as nepotism the appointments made in favor of a relative of the appointing or recommending authority, particularly those related within the 3rd degree of consanguinity or affinity under the Administrative Code and up to the 4th degree under the Local Government Code, the complainants stated.
Siblings and sisters-in-law are within the 2nd degree of consanguinity and affinity, respectively, they pointed out.
Said act of appointing the close relative constitute conduct unbecoming a public officer and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, they said.
Salvidar said there was even a palpable intent on the part of the respondents to maliciously cover up the violation when they accepted the Personal Data Sheet (PDS) of Onan with a middle name indicated as “Able” instead of “Aguilar,” retracting the document after receiving verification from the Civil Service Commission and then tendering another PDS reflecting this time “Aguilar” as the middle name.
The complainants asked the provincial board to issue a preventive suspension against the two respondents and render a decision finding them guilty of nepotism.
The filing of the charges came after Provincial Board Member Natalio Popa Jr., whose wife Agnes lost her reelection bid against Mayor Aguilar, delivered a privilege speech on the issue during the SP’s regular session.