Samar gov told: Answer rap

Provincial health administrative officer says Tan refuses to reinstate him Tacloban City — The Office of the President (OP) has ordered Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan to answer a complaint accusing her of vendetta in the case of a whistle-blower who led a petition to unseat the governor and is fighting to reclaim the government position that he lost after exposing alleged corruption in the provincial government.

In a one-page order signed by lawyer Ronaldo Giron, of the OP, Malacañang gave Tan 15 days to answer the complaint filed by Aurelio Bardaje Jr.

Bardaje accused Tan of oppression, harassment and abuse of authority for refusing to reinstate him as administrative officer of the provincial health office.

Bardaje said Tan’s refusal to reinstate him is a “clear case of vindictiveness.” Bardaje had led a recall petition against the governor and her brother, Vice Gov. Stephen James Tan, seeking to unseat the siblings for being alleged stooges of their mother, former governor and now Rep. Milagrosa Tan.

A staffer at the governor’s office said Tan has yet to receive a copy of the Malacañang order because she is on maternity leave since October.

On Dec. 7, 2010, Bardaje initiated a recall petition against the Tan siblings at the Commission on Elections in Catbalogan City. The petition, however, was dismissed after its proponents failed to get the required number of signatures to get it moving. /INQUIRER