Radio broadcaster sacked, 2 ABC employees suspended

THE Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) in Cebu City said it has  terminated the services of radio broadcaster Roger Cimafranca as its liaison officer after the May 9 incident where he berated and threatened  a traffic enforcer over a traffic violation.

Joel Garganera, ABC vice president and barangay Tinago chairman, who  heads the investigation committee,  said Cimafranca’s termination was final and executory.

“It would appear there was an abuse of authority,” he said quoting ABC chief Philip Zafra. “He has to suffer the consequences of his actions.”

Two ABC employees  who were backriding on Cimafranca’s motorcycle without crash helmets were suspended for one month without pay –   Alvin Enanoria, a bookkeeper of the ABC Accounting Department and Phillip RJ Cardona, an ABC clerk.

“It should be impressed upon Cimafranca that his appointment in government service is not a vested right. It is not an entitlement that he can claim simply for the reason that he knows the mayor or anyone in the government service,” the committee report stated. Cimafranca hosted a radio dyLA program that promotes ABC activities.

Lyndon Ocampo of the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) recorded his  encounter  with Cimafranca on his cell phone video camera at the South Road Properties (SRP). The broadcaster was stopped on the road for  overloading and carrying passengers without helmets.   The video was uploaded on Facebook weeks later, causing an uproar.

Garganera noted that the two ABC employees riding  bike wore their  ABC uniforms and IDs. Their conduct gave the impression they  tolerated Cimafranca’s abuse.