Council: Only one post for Cuevas

CEBU City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas’ appointment as concurrent city accountant was shot down by the City Council yesterday.

Voting 14-4, the City Council said Cuevas, who was appointed by the Department of Finance as acting city treasurer can only hold one position in City Hall. Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima’s appointment of Cuevas will expire on February 2014.

Councilor Margot Osmeña reminded the council yesterday that they are still waiting for Cuevas to furnish them copies of written opinions from the Bureau of Local Government and Finance (BLGF) and the Commission on Audit (COA) stating that it is legal for one to hold the position of acting treasurer and city accountant concurrently.

The City Council had already deferred action on her appointment as accountant.

To facilitate resolution of the issue, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella ask the council: “What is the pleasure of the body? We have to already dispose of this,”

After the vote, Councilor Gerardo Carillo sought the referral of two communications from Cuevas – one made on her capacity as acting treasurer and another as city accountant – to the council’s committee on laws to check on the legal ramifications of the council decision on these letters.

Cuevas wrote the council on her capacity as city accountant in transmitting to the council a copy of the city’s trial balance and cash flow dated June 30, 2013.

A second letter from her was also included in the agenda, written on her capacity as OIC city treasurer, relaying to the council her office’s position on the operation of a junkshop in Happy Valley. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac