48 SRP guards beg for unpaid wages

“Kami nagahangyo kaninyo sa kinasing-kasing namong paghangyo nga inyo kaming gahinan, inyo kaming kaloy- an nga unta hatagan kami sa katin-awan nga makuha namo ang among honorarium gikan sa Enero hangtud Mayo 2013, diin kini lamang ang among gi-saligan para sa among pamilya ug kami usab makabayad sa among gi-utangan (We plead with all our heart that you set aside funds for us, that you take pity on us and give us our honoraria from January to May 2013, which we rely on for our family and for us to pay those from whom we incurred debts),” Vergara said.

At least 48 Barangay Intelligence Network ( BIN) members previously deployed at the South Road Properties (SRP) remain unpaid of their monthly honoraria totaling P802,500 for five months last year.

BIN supervisor Nicanor Vergara already wrote the City Council last month, pleading for the immediate release of their honoraria from January to May last year.

The amount of honorarium each BIN member receives is based on rank, with the supervisor getting P5,000; Guard III, P4,000; Guard II, P3,500; and Guard I, P3,000.

Vergara recalled that they also sent a letter last July, but received no response from the Cebu City Government.

He alleged that city hall did not distribute their honoraria because the present administration knew that they received donated rice from then mayor and congressman Tomas Osmeña, political rival of incumbent Mayor Michael Rama.

Vergara said the names of the 48 BIN members were removed from the payroll’s list and replaced with those of Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) members.

“Wala gyod mi nadawat sa rason nga ang among pangalan nga naa sa payroll gi-alisdan og laing pangalan sa BPAT ug bisan pa man gipirmahan na kini sa mayor. Ug ang rason kay nakadawat mi og bugas nga gihatag ni kanhi congressman Tomas Osmeña,” he said.

“Hinaut nga inyo kaming hatagan og hustisya aron ma- claim namo ang honorarium kay dili kini makatarongan nga ang among pagpanerbisyo sa among pagpangalagad dili mahatagan og kaangayan (We wish we get justice and could already claim our honoraria, because it is unjust that our service is not given due compensation),” he added.

The BIN members were invited to attend an executive session on April 23 for City Council members to hear their sentiments.—/