Ombuds suspends 2 MSU execs
THE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the suspension of the two high-ranking officials from the Mindanao State University (MSU) main campus for failing to act on a faculty member’s request to update his government contribution.
Former University President Macapado Muslim and Chief Accountant Papala Masorong were found guilty for Simple Neglect of Duty and violation of the RA 6713 or The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
Investigation revealed that the complainant Ranao Datu-Dacula, a faculty member of the university, retired from the service in May 2015, after serving the school since 1992.
Sometime in 2014, Datu-Dacula found out that his Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) contributions started only in March 2003.
The complainant then wrote letters to the administrators of the university requesting for update, reconciliation, and payment of unremitted contributions from 1992 to 2003.
According to DatuDacula, four other followup letters were made in December 2014 to February 2015, all to no avail.
The Ombudsman said it is established that there was undue delay in the response and action made on the request of complainant.
It added that the respondents do not dispute the fact that starting on December 2014, DatuDacula had been sending various letters to them regarding his unremitted GSIS contributions.
However, it was only on 12 October 2015 that the MSU administration, through its Legal Service Office, took action, the Ombudsman said.
The decision explained that length of time of almost eight months from the first letter of the respondents, and when an action was made, is unjustified. It is absurd that
the simple referral to the GSIS by the MSU took eight months.
According to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, “clearly, respondents were neglectful of their duties when they did not promptly act upon the concern of complainant.“
Morales also said their patent failure to respond to the letters of complainant within 15 days from receipt and to act promptly and expeditiously, the respondents violated the RA 6713.
The RA 6713 states that all public officials and employees shall, within fifteen working days from receipt thereof, respond to letters, telegrams or other means of communications sent by the public which must contain the action taken on the request.
In addition, the law requires all public officials and employees to attend to anyone who wants to avail himself of the services of their offices and must, at all times, act promptly and expeditiously.
A Simple Neglect of Duty means the failure of an official to give proper attention to a task expected, signifying a disregard of a duty resulting from careless or indifference.
In case of separation from the service, the penalty shall be converted into a fine equivalent to respondent’s salary for three months. The Ombudsman directed the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) to implement the suspension order.