• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Provincial Legal Office (PLO) of Negros Occidental has dismissed the administrative case of grave misconduct filed against Ellen Jalandoni, former supervisor of the Capitol-managed Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary in Murcia town, for lack of substantial evidence.
The recommendation to dismiss the complaint was approved by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson in a decision of the PLO dated Sept. 6, 2023.
The administrative complaint was filed by five employees of RBA Janitorial and Manpower Services, who signed a joint affidavit claiming that Jalandoni committed misconduct and other irregular activities.
After the complaint was filed against her, Jalandoni was relieved of her post at the Mambukal Resort and was transferred to the Office of the Vice Governor, following the issuance of a show-cause order against her on March 9, 2020.
Jalandoni was accused of failing to provide the complainants with needed supplies, made them perform work outside of their usual line of services, and ordered their unauthorized summary termination.
The decision noted that “it appears that the respondent’s actions were motivated by the need to efficiently manage the resources of the resort rather than a willful attempt to interfere with the employment relationship between RBA and its janitors.”
The resort’s success and effective resource utilization were among her intentions, which can be viewed positively, Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. said.
“While it is crucial to maintain the integrity of public office and uphold established rules, it is equally crucial to base judgments on the evidence and circumstances specific to each case,” Nellas said.
The PLO decision added: “In this particular instance, the evidence presented does not meet the substantial evidence threshold required to hold Jalandoni liable for grave misconduct.”
Jalandoni’s actions appear to be motivated by managerial concerns rather than an attempt to infringe on workers’ rights, it added. | GB
