Local official seen frolicking in Facebook loses job

Boracay Island, where Nueva Ecija provincial information officer Maynardo Valdez was attending a high school alumni reunion. Valdez, who had closed his office for four days last year without permission, has been dismissed, according to Philippine Information Agency chief Jose Fabia on Wednesday, July 4, 2012.

A local official has been dismissed after Facebook photos showed him attending a high school reunion on an island resort when he was supposed to be at work.

A Nueva Ecija provincial information officer, Maynardo Valdez, was accused of gross misconduct and dishonesty.

Jose Fabia, head of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), on Wednesday said Valdez closed his office for four days last year without permission and did not respond to calls and text messages from his superiors.

Fabia said officials had tried contacting Valdez through his Facebook account and instead saw pictures of him at the reunion on Boracay Island.

The PIA chief said Valdez had neglected his other duties like producing daily reports and surveying the sentiments of the people in the province.

Valdez said he would appeal Fabia’s decision.

Originally posted: 9:47 pm | Wednesday, July 4th, 2012