The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) has ordered a six-month preventive suspension of Cebu City Mayor Michael L. Rama and seven other local officials for their involvement in the non-payment of salaries of four city employees since July 2023.
Also oOrdered suspended without pay were City Administrator Collin E. Rosell, Officer-in-Charge Office of the City Assessor Maria Theresa C. Rosell, Designated Assistant Department Head for Administration Francis May L. Jacaban, Designated Assistant Department Head for Operations Angelique B. Cabugao, Designated Assistant Department Head Jay-ar B. Pescante, Designated Assessment of Records Management Division Head Lester Joey O. Beniga, and Designated Computer Division Head Nelyn P. Sanrojo.
They were all charged with grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a public officer, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave abuse of authority (oppression), and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
"The evidence on record shows the respective participation of respondents... relative to the unpaid salaries of complainants since July 2023 and the discrimination/oppression complainants have suffered notwithstanding the decisions of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Regional Office 7, which declared as invalid the reassignment orders and that the complainants are entitled to the release of their salaries and other benefits," the order stated.
The respondents were involved in the reassignments of four employees from the City Assessor's Office on June 1, 2023. The four employees went from being tax mappers to other positions in the Cebu City Anti-Mendicancy Office (CCAMO), South Road Properties Management Office (SRPMO), Cebu City Operation Second Chance (CCOSC), and Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO).
They appealed their reassignments before the CSC on the ground that they have been "constructively dismissed from the service having been reassigned to a menial task far from their supervisory roles."
Pending their appeal, they went back to their original positions in the Assessor's Office. However, they reportedly experienced discrimination and oppression during that time.
Their appeal was granted by the CSC on Oct. 12, 2023, and their reassignment orders were declared as "invalid and without any legal effect." Rama was ordered to restore them to their original positions as tax mappers and "release in [their] favor the unpaid salaries and other benefits pertaining to [them]."
Rama filed motions for reconsideration before the CSC, but these were all denied. The complainants said that despite the denial of the motions, they have not yet received their salaries since July 2023.
"This Office finds sufficient grounds to grant complainants' prayer for the issuance of an order for preventive suspension against respondents... considering that there is strong evidence showing their guilt," the Ombudsman said.
The 10-page order was signed by Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires on May 7.