Info officer tagged as persona non grata
The city’s information officer has been declared by the Sangguniang Panlungsod as persona non grata for posting “malicious, irresponsible and vehemently downgrading” contents on social media.
In a resolution passed on April 8, a copy of which was furnished to The Manila Times on Saturday, April 13, the council said that the online community were shocked by the irresponsible post of city information officer Baron Venturina.
The council said Venturina’s “use and choice of words are unprofessional which dragged the elective and appointive officials of the city as incompetent and in indolent servitude.”
“As the city information officer whose office is under the stewardship of the Office of the City Mayor, he should have been responsible enough to foster dignity, promote the city with pride and honor, instead of downgrading its current status as a 3rd class city,” the resolution said in part.
The resolution cited the posts of Venturina that says “Umayos muna bago mangampanya. Pasalamat at Calapan ito. Kung Manila to, nag-trending na pagiging trapo. Dito lang nakakalusot ganyang estilo Palibhasa 3rd class kaya pati utak ng mga uto-uto di na mag-progress(You better act appropriately before you campaign. Good thing this is Calapan. If this is Manila, your being a traditional politician would already be trending on social media. Only here that you can get away with it because we are 3rdclass and we do not progress).”
“To all the people from NCR and other cities, Calapan po kasi is fucked up and na-stranded na sa pagiging 3rd class. Medyo madami pa po kakaining suman sa lihiya para umasenso ang lungsod kasabay ng utak ng mga opisyales dito. Sinanay po kasi (To all the people from NCR and other cities, Calapan is fucked up and stranded as a 3rd class city. We need to eat more “suman” and “lihiya” for the city to progress along with the mindset of its officials. We have been conditioned…),” the post also said.
The resolution also said that as a government employee, Venturina should be reminded that the public office is a public trust and public officers must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and, act with patriotism and justice and lead modest lives.
Vice Mayor Rommel Ignacio, the council’s presiding officer, said that they have been offended by the “arrogant posts of Venturina and that the resolution was endorsed by all of the council’s members except for one councilor who is identified with the camp of Mayor Malou Morillo.”
City Legal Officer Atty. Yel Acedillo said that they have not yet received the copy of the resolution and will give a statement after they get a copy.