Capitol PIO chief quits

The Public Information Office chief of Cebu Province will only hold office until today after his resignation letter was approved by Governor Hilario Davide III.

Davide confirmed yesterday the resignation of Jasonjes Monteclar. He said Monteclar stated "personal business" as the reason for his voluntary resignation.

According to other Capitol employees, Monteclar has not been showing up in his office for a month now. Davide is set to have a meeting today to discuss and choose a new PIO head.

Monteclar and his assistant were charged before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act because of alleged 'double compensation and/or conflict of interest'.

"Mr. Monteclar and (Jethro) Bacolod, while receiving a salary with the Provincial Government of Cebu, they are also receiving monthly salary from a radio station DyCM which amounts to P18,000 and P7,000, respectively," stated in the complaint filed by broadcasters Isabelo Osmeña and Arnel Bacalan.

Monteclar receives P67,690 monthly or P812,280 per annum from the provincial government since his appointment in July 2016. He is also the manager of the radio station DYCM where the Capitol has a paid broadcast.

He is the highest paid employee in PIO as well as in dyCM. In May 2017, Monteclar declared a net worth of P450,000 with no liabilities in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

The FREEMAN tried to reach Monteclar's side but received no response.—