Ombuds charges Barili mayor for 'nepotism'
The Office of the Ombudsman has filed a criminal case for nepotism against Barili, Cebu Mayor Teresito Mariñas before the Sandiganbayan for allegedly designating his brother, Aniceto, as human resource office head of the municipal government in 2007.
The case stemmed from the complaints filed by a certain Kim Carmela Veloso in October 2010, and nothing to do with his current conflict with Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Nemeño, who took exception with the mayor's appointment of Aniceto as Sangguniang Bayan (SB) secretary, a power that supposedly rests with the vice mayor being the SB head.
In filing the case against Mariñas last March 18, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said what the mayor did in 2007 was in violation of Executive Order 292, also known as the "Administrative Code of 1987 and the Local Government Code of 1991", which prohibits individuals from being designated in the career service of the local government if he is related within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to the appointing or recommending authority.
Aniceto is reportedly no longer the human resource officer of Barili municipal government and is now working as an administrative aide at the Office of the Local Civil Registrar.
Sometime in October last year, Mariñas and Nemeño, both of the administration Liberal Party, were fighting against each other over the choice of Aniceto as SB secretary.
Mariñas reportedly wanted his brother to be appointed SB secretary following the recommendation of the Personnel Selection Board on October 6, 2015.
Nemeño, however, named Catherine Candilada as SB secretary and the appointment was confirmed by the Municipal Council on November 4, 2015.
The next day, Mariñas ordered Alma Tigley, the designated human resource management officer, to hold in abeyance the processing of Candilada's appointment pending review of the minutes of the October 6 PSB conference and the November 4 council session.
On November 6, though, Nemeño ordered Tigley to prepare the appointment of Candilada as SB secretary.
On November 9, Mariñas returned the town council resolution confirming the appointment of Candilada without his signature.
Mariñas and Nemeño were supposed to swap positions in the upcoming May 9, 2016 elections as LP candidates. Because of their conflict for Aniceto's appointment, however, LP has picked businessman Jay Ruiz as replacement of Nemeño as its candidate for mayor.