CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Four former staff members of city Councilor Agapito Eriberto Suan who were not renewed since December last year exposed the legislator’s alleged unfair labor practice in a press conference here on Thursday, October 26.
FOUR former staff members of city Councilor Agapito Eriberto Suan answer questions from the media during a press conference in Cagayan de Oro City on October 26. (Franck Dick Rosete)
Percy Dawat Tapiahan said they were tasked to work by allegedly guarding Suan’s business during weekends, which were supposed to be their days-off during their time as job order workers in city hall.
“They were very strict on being five (or) 30 minutes late, but our Saturday and Sunday shifts were not paid,” Tapiahan said in the vernacular in a press conference in this city.
Jhon Neri echoed Tapiahan’s claim and he also exposed Suan’s treatment of people asking for assistance in his office.
Neri said Suan, the No. 1 councilor in the first district during the 2022 elections, allegedly used to close the door of his office, especially during Monday sessions, to prevent individuals asking for assistance from entering the room.
This claim was echoed by the other former staff.
“Sometimes, if there were (people) asking for assistance, we would refer them to the neighboring councilors,” Neri said in the vernacular. “Sometimes, if we have money, we are the ones who provide,” he added.
Tapiahan and Neri, as well as the other two former workers, May Ahrel Robledo and Joseph Tacogdoy, are now part of the campaign of former city Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin Uy – the son of Mayor Roland Uy here – for Barangay Carmen captain. The young Uy’s lone opponent for position is Agapito Suan Jr., the father of Councilor Suan.
BenCyrus Ellorin, political spokesperson for Mayor Uy, said the press conference on Thursday which he moderated was sponsored by the campaign supporters of the young Uy.
Tapiahan told the media they decided to expose the matter now amid the campaign period and the end of their contract to inform residents of Barangay Carmen.
Mediamen present in the press conference asked why they did not file a formal complaint against the councilor’s alleged unfair labor practice. Only Tapiahan answered the question and said that he wouldn’t file a complaint as he just wanted to make up for the scripted insult he made against the Uys during the last election.
They said that they were not paid to share their testimonies and they voluntarily joined Uy's camp.
The situation of a broadcaster at DXRU Radio Ultra owned by the Suan family was also brought up in the press conference.
Broadcaster Emil Lledo’s employment ended after he thanked Mayor Uy for the assistance provided for his brother’s wake on his Facebook account.
Lledo went live on Facebook on Thursday, saying that he no longer has a job.
Ellorin issued a statement on Friday, October 27, condemning the elder Suan “for the political persecution of their employee,” saying that Uy’s camp did not make the assistance provided to the grieving Lledo family public.
“It was Lledo, who, in sincere gratefulness, posted on Facebook messages thanking the city mayor,” Ellorin said.
“The Suans, on the other hand, are exposing their anti-poor, anti-worker character. They are insensitive to the plight of their workers. Worse, they are oppressive and exploitative,” he added.
The older Suan conducted a rally on Zone 10, Barangay Carmen, on Thursday, but did not comment about the press conference or Lledo. His son, Councilor Suan, also joined the rally, but he also did not issue a comment.
Councilor Suan was asked to comment through his secretary on Thursday but he has yet to release a statement as of posting time.