The Civil Service Commission has advised Virac Vice Mayor Arlynn H. Arcilla that her office is responsible for executing its decision on the appeal of former Councilor Ephraim Antonio Gianan for the payment ofg back salaries and benefits.
“Please be advised that as the Presiding Officer of the Office of the Sangguniang Bayan of Virac, Catanduanes and as the immediate supervisor of then Councilor Gianan, that office shall be responsible for the implementation of the Decision,” CSC Director IV Atty. Daisy Punzalan Bragais said in her reply to the vice mayor’s letter asking for clarification on the issue.
“The implementation shall include the issuance of directives to the proper office/s in charge of the computation, preparation and release of the back salaries to be awarded to then Councilor Gianan,” she added in her reply dated Jan. 18, 2023.
It may be recalled that the CSC Regional Office No. V, in its August 2, 2022 ruling, said Gianan’s absences at the height of the pandemic and the circumstances obtaining during the period fall under Item 3.1 of CSC Memorandum Circular No. 23, s. 2020 and are thus treated as excused absences.
In granting the appeal, CSC Director IV Atty, Daisy Punzalan Bragais ruled that the leave credits deducted against Gianan’s accumulated leave credits for those applied after March 16, 2020 and before February 14, 2022 be restored and the former councilor be paid of his salaries covering those when he was declared to have been on leave of absence without pay.