Sandiganbayan Places Ex-Negros Occidental Mayor Under Probation Over Employees’ Dismissal
EX-NEGROS OCCIDENTAL MAYOR – A former Negros Occidental mayor is under probation over his dismissal of his employees during his term.
Politicians cannot just dismissed the employees of the local government whenever they want to. Such act may violate the Republic Act No. 6656 which protects the rights of the civil service personnel.
One of those who was found guilty of violating the said law is a former mayor in Negros Occidental.
Based on a report on GMA News, nineteen(19) fired employees previously lodged complaints against then Cadiz Mayor Eduardo Varela. It was after he dismissed 166 employees for the LGU’s reorganization in 1998.
The ruling of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) over the matter sided the people who lodged the complaints against the politician.
Recently, an update regarding the issue crossed the surface. Ex-Negros Occidental Mayor Varela is under a four-year probation as granted by Sandiganbayan.
The said probationary period comes with special conditions such as that Varela must visit his parole officer at least two times a month. Also, he should not change his address without court approval.
The former Mayor also needs to secure a permit from the Fifth Division in case he plans to take a travel for more than thirty(30) days. Based on the report, he must also render community service.
Varela should also refrain from being with people who have questionable character. According to the court, with regards to the employees he fired, they were reinstated after the then Mayor’s term.
As of this writing, there are still no further updates regarding the issue. We’ll keep you posted.
