Talisay City admin bloc criticized over sacking of job order workers

ABOUT eight newly hired job order workers were allegedly told by the Talisay City Government that their appointments have been revoked after they were found joining the city's opposition candidates in filing their candidacies last week.

Opposition city councilors criticized the City Government for resorting to such “tactics” to cow their supporters.

While denying the allegations, an administration official said the job order employees should have had the “common sense” not to side with their patron's political opponents.

Last Tuesday, the eight job order employees reportedly sought the help of opposition Councilors Romeo Villarante, Danilo Caballero and Valeriano Ylanan about their problem.

One of the job workers, who refused to give her name, was in tears when she told her story to the three councilors.

She said her appointment for a 15day job was revoked after she was caught accompanying the opposition bloc while filing their certificates of candidacy last Oct. 5. The 48-year-old job order employee was supposed to start work on Oct. 16.

She revealed that while on her way to the office of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez, she encountered Talisay City Councilor Dennis Basillote, who told her the job order quotas have been filled and there was no vacancy for her because she was identified under the opposition bloc.

‘ Victims’

In response to the job order worker's story, Villarante said the “boiling” politi- cal situation in the city has claimed its first set of victims.

“It's very unfortunate that they were involved in this,” said Villarante, who is running for vice mayor next year.

Ylanan plans to hire the displaced job order worker, since he still has another slot available in his quota.

Talisay City Administrator Bacaltos denied the allegations, saying the city has never tried to displace job order workers due to political affiliation.

Bacaltos explained that since the displaced job order employee and her companions would have worked for only 15 days, their services don't need a contract.

He said job order employees should observe “delicadeza” and refrain from doing anything that could be potentially damaging to the politicians who endorsed them.

“Kung gi- endorse man gani ka og politico, naa gyud kay kaikog gamay (If a politician has endorsed you for a job, you must at least have some delicadeza),” he added.