Absentee councilor faces ouster, suspension

DAGUPAN CITY—For not attending the weekly regular sessions of the Sangguniang Bayan for almost a year now, a councilor in an eastern town in Pangasinan province is facing administrative charges in the provincial board.

Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr., chair of the board’s blue ribbon committee, said his committee had finished hearing a complaint filed against Councilor Jun Jun Macaraeg of Sta. Maria town for gross negligence and dereliction of duty and dishonesty.

A complaint filed and signed by Sta. Maria Vice Mayor Conrado Ignacio and councilors in May showed that Macaraeg had been absent in all but three sessions since he assumed office in July 2013.

“Despite his continuous absence, [Macaraeg] has been withdrawing and receiving his salary and other benefits. In other words, he has committed dishonesty,” the complainants said.

Town councilors receive a minimum monthly salary corresponding to salary Grade 24.

Based on the salary standardization rates for Philippine government employees approved by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on June 17, 2009, an employee with  salary Grade 24 receives P49,750 a month.

But for Sta. Maria, a fourth class town  with an average annual income of P25 million to P35 million, salary Grade 24 employees receive only 75 percent of the salary standardization rate, which is P37,312.50.

The complainants asked the provincial board to suspend or remove Macaraeg from office.

In his answer, Macaraeg admitted his absences but denied committing gross negligence or dereliction of duty.

He said he had not been able to attend sessions because of an attempt on his life in September 2012. Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon