• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo said the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman for her and two department heads to pay a fine for violation of Republic Act (RA) 11032 will not weaken her commitment to serve her constituents.
The fine is equivalent to six months of their respective salaries.
Yulo, Warren Jocson, officer-in-charge of the Business Permits and Licensing Office, and Archie Montelibano, human resource and management officer-designate, were found guilty of violation of Section 21(e) of RA 11032, also known as “Act of Promoting Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Delivery of Government Services”, and not for grave abuse of authority and neglect of duty.
Complainant Ramona Nalagon Villaflor, owner of Luz Agustin Nalagon Memorial Homes, alleged that the respondents did not issue her a business permit despite full compliance with all the regulatory requirements.
While the complainant charged the respondents with grave abuse of authority and neglect of duty, under the attendant circumstances, the Ombudsman said it found substantial evidence against them for failing to render government services within the prescribed processing time on any application or request without due cause, which is violation of Section 21 (e) of RA 11032.
The first offense under RA 11032 warrants the penalty of suspension from work, without pay for a period of six months.
However, pursuant to Section 10, Rule III of Administrative Order No. 7, respondents shall be imposed a fine equivalent to their respective salaries for six months, the Ombudsman decision said.
The amount may be deductible from the respondents’ retirement benefits, accrued leave credits, or any receivable from their office.
Yulo said they will file a motion for reconsideration.
“This is not yet final. We have the option for motion for reconsideration. In government service, you cannot please or satisfy everybody, and there are situations beyond your control,” she added. | GB
