THE Ombudsman-Visayas directed the regional Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG-7) to enforce the one month suspension order against Tudela town Mayor Erwin Yu.
Yu was ordered suspended by the Ombudsman on charges of simple misconduct for his refusal to implement a Civil Service Commission (CSC) order to reinstate and pay the back wages of four municipal employees in 2011.
In a press statement, the Ombudsman noted that the Aguinaldo doctrine doesn’t apply to Yu despite his reelection in the 2013 since he refused to implement the CSC order.
An administrative case was filed against him by Angelita B. Roble, former municipal treasurer; Liliosa N. Labayan, former accounting clerk; Josephine O. Montes, former revenue collection clerk; and Brenda E. Calinawan, former administrative aide.
The four employees were dropped from the rolls of the municipal government based on orders issued by then municipal mayor, Demetrio P. Granada.
Yu appealed the CSC decision and the CSC referred the case to the Ombudsman for possible criminal and administrative investigation against him.
Yu said there were already qualified personnel who were appointed to fill up their positions and it took sometime before the CSC rendered its decision to reinstate the employees.
He said it was agreed with then Asst. Ombudsman Virginia Palanca Santiago that the four employees would be reinstated in the payroll but not to their former positions.
Yu said the four employees also failed to account for the liquidation of cash advances amounting to nearly P12 million.
He said they have to settle it first before they can receive their compensation.
The Ombudsman said Yu failed to comply with the CSC decision without sufficient justification.
It said the mayor also failed to provide evidence to justify his refusal to reinstate them and pay them their back wages.
The Ombudsman also said the four employees should be investigated to determine the veracity of their alleged unliquidated cash advances.