SCREENGRAB from Roderick Paulate’s Instagram account
Former actor and Quezon City councilor Roderick Paulate has belied the accusations against him after the Ombudsman ordered his dismissal from public service over ghost employees in the city council’s payroll.
READ: QC officials Paulate, Calalay sacked over ghost employees
In a comment on one of his Instagram posts, Paulate said he was saddened by the Ombudsman’s decision, adding that news reports regarding his sacking was quite exaggerated.
“Nakakalungkot nga kasi minsan oa (over-acting) ang news. Hindi naman ito malaki sobrang pinalaki lang ng mga nasa likod nito ang kasinungalingang ito,” Paulate said.
(It saddens me because sometimes, news stories or exaggerated. The issue is not a huge one but it those behind this lie made a big deal out of it.)
“Sad to say, maraming humusga na kahit di nila naiintindihan ang nangyayari sa akin. Tinaon nila sa election period na. Basta truth will prevail. God is just! He knows the truth,” he added.
(Sad to say, many were quick to judge although they don’t understand what is happening to me. They made sure that the issue will coincide with the election period. Truth will prevail God is just! He knows the truth.)
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales found Paulate and Quezon City Representative Francisco Calalay guilty of the administrative offense of falsification of documents, serious dishonesty and grave misconduct for employing fictitious “job order personnel.”
The two officials were meted with perpetual disqualification from office, cancelation of eligibility and forfeiture of retirement benefits.
The Ombudsman said Paulate had 30 ghost employees from July to November 2010, who supposedly received P2,500 to P5,000 monthly salary each. RAM