News Briefs

‘EXPLAIN CHOICE OF PREZ’

THE Civil Service Commission gave Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and Dr. Susana Cabahug five days to explain her  appointment.

Cabahug is president of the Mandaue City College recognized by the city govenment.

The CSC issued the order after after Dr. Paulus Cañete, who is disputing her position as MCC president, questioned Cabahug’s appointment.

Canete said Cabahug was appointed Security Officer 1 of the Mandaue city government  although she is “beyond the mandatory age of retirement.”

Cañete also cited her conviction by the Sandiganbayan’s  5th  Division for the  fraudulent purchase of construction materials for an elementary school building in Davao City in  1991.

In his reply, Mayor Cortes said Cabahug was exempted from the mandatory age rule since her position is  “primarily confidential and is only temporary until such time that a qualified College Administrator can be appointed.”

Cortes said Cabahug’s conviction is on appeal with the Supreme Court and she is “still presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

“Nevertheless, she was very transparent in divulging the existence of said case and has appropriately indicated in her personal date sheet,” the mayor said.

The CSC North Field Office said   Cabahug  has to submit proof that her criminal case is pending with the Supreme Court.

Mayor Cortes was asked to explain why Cabahug is supervising regular and career service personnel when she was appointed  Security Officer II— a non-supervisory, non-career position.

Cañete’s MCC has been discredited by the Commission on Higher Education, Professional Regulation Commission and CSC. /Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos

TREES CUT FOR ‘BEAUTIFICATION’

A LAWYER in Daanbantayan town, north Cebu, questioned the beautification program of  Mayor Maria Luisa Loot.

Lawyer Estrella Martinez said trees in her backyard were uprooted as part of the program without her consent.

In a letter dated Sept. 15 to Director Pedro Noval of the Department of Interior and Local Government in Central Visayas, Martinez said, “As a lawyer, I never encountered a law which mandates municipal and local officials to cut mercilessly plants and trees within the vicinity if any residence without the consent of the plant owner.

“I was so insulted and deeply hurt with what they did to my dear, dear plants. Up to the present, I am still grieving over my plants and the moral and actual damages I have suffered were not capable of any pecuniary estimation. But somehow, I will have my day in court,” Martinez said.

Last May, Calape barangay captain Victor Aquipo and some barangay officials allegedly cut down 24 germelina and two mahogany trees along the national road.

Photographs of the cut trees were attached to Martinez’s letter. She said the cutting of the trees is not beautification. Martinez said  after the trees were cut, the land has been used to keep fighting cocks. /Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus