Withdraw Pamintuan awards – newsman

Veteran mediaman Robledo Sanchez on December 4 forwarded a letter to Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II requesting the agency to review the awards given to the Pamintuan administration.

In his letter, Sanchez said the issue of irregularities surrounding the Pamintuan administration, particularly the controversial “ghost employees” in the job order appointments, do not resonate with the corrupt-free government advocacy of the Aquino administration.

A copy of the letter was also forwarded to DILG regional director Florida Dijan.

Sanchez also cited the case of several barangay officials who denied any knowledge about the inclusion of their relatives’ names in the list of the Pamintuan administration’s job order appointments.

According to the barangay officials, the names of their relatives have been included in the list of job order employees even when their relatives are not even working for City Hall and have never received any salary from the City Government.

Among these officials are Barangay Lourdes Northwest Kagawad and Councilmen’s League of Angeles City (CLAC) Vice-President for External Affairs William David, Barangay Cutcut Kagawad and CLAC Executive Vice-President Roy Ogurida, Barangay Salapungan Kagawad Renato Coronel and Barangay Margot Kagawad Nenita Ferrer.

Sanchez also cited the observations of the City Project Monitoring Committee regarding the projects of the City Government, which are allegedly poorly planned, poorly constructed and perceived to be overpriced.

Sanchez also mentioned the several irregularities cited by COA in its Annual Audit Report for Angeles City for the year 2011, which include unliquidated cash advances amounting to P19.4 million, unbooked hospital equipment donations amounting to P13.9 million, and reimbursements of non-petty expenses amounting to P9.6 million.

On October 19, 2012, Sanchez filed graft and corruption charges against Pamintuan, City Accountant Wilfredo Tiotuico, City Budget Officer Fe Corpuz, City Treasurer Juliet Quinsaat and other department heads over the 2,506 job order employees employed by the Pamintuan administration.

by: Reynaldo Navales

Barangay leaders’ kin tag as ‘ghost employees’

Robledo Sanchez has continued revealing pieces of evidence on the "ghost" job order employees appointed by Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan.

In a press statement, Sanchez said relatives of several barangay officials are under the payroll of Pamintuan as job order employees.

“Ang masama pa dito, ang mga residente ng barangay mismo ang magpapatunay na ang mga kamag-anak ng mga barangay official na kasama sa job order ay hindi naman talaga nagtatrabaho,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez was referring to Edward “Sakurai” Gueco, son of Barangay Malabanias Kagawad Antonia Gueco, who is listed as an Administrative Assistant and earning a daily rate of P500.

Sanchez said barangay residents attest that Edward Gueco is not actually working for the City Government and is, in fact, in Singapore.

Sanchez also cited the case of Nestle Joy Paras, wife of Malabanias Kagawad Edwin Nacu’s brother, who is allegedly not reporting for work because she is at home taking care of her two children.

Paras is also designated as an Administrative Assistant under the Philhealth Program of the Office of the Mayor and is given a daily rate of P500.

“Kung may mga sumesweldo kahit hindi naman nagtatrabaho, ibig sabihin, nagtatapon ang administrasyon ng pera ng mga mamamayang nagbabayad ng tax,” Sanchez said.

Also included in the names of job order employees listed by Sanchez are Jonathan Gonzales, son of Malabanias Kagawad Santiago Gonzales, Norberto Tanhueco, husband of former Barangay Pulung Bulu Chairwoman Gloria Tanhueco, Daniel Zaballa, husband of Pulungbulo Kagawad Lorna Zaballa.

“Mukhang gumagawa ng political machinery ang administrasyon,” said Sanchez. “Pero ginagawa nila ang political machinery na ito at the expense of the people. Pera iyan ng tao.”

On October 19, 2012, Sanchez filed a complaint against Pamintuan, City Accountant Wilfredo Tiotuico, City Budget Officer Fe Corpuz, City Treasurer Juliet Quinsaat and the different respective Department Heads before the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to the 2,506 job order employees of the City Government.

by: Sunstar Pampanga