Negros Mayor Suspended for Misuse of Power
NEGROS MAYOR – Calatrava mayor Era found guilty of grave abuse of authority, gross negligence of duty in the termination of two doctors.
The mayor of Calatrava, Negros Occidental, has been suspended after terminating two medical consultants before the expiration of their contracts. Mayor Marilyn Era was found guilty of grave abuse of authority and gross negligence by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s committee of the whole.
The committee, which acted in a quasi-judicial role, imposed a two-month suspension on Era for her actions. However, in an effort to ensure that essential services were not disrupted for the people of Calatrava, the committee allowed Era to continue performing her duties but imposed a fine equivalent to her two-month salary. The fine will be used to compensate the complainants, Lewyn Torres and Kristine Ureta, in accordance with the applicable regulations governing such cases.
Torres and Ureta, both medical doctors, were hired as consultants for the Calatrava Municipal Hospital for the period from April 1 to June 30 of this year. Their appointments were formalized through a memorandum of agreement between them and the municipal government.
However, a month before the expiration of their contracts, the consultants were informed that they would no longer receive work schedules, leading them to question the decision. The consultants sent a letter to Mayor Era seeking clarification about the termination, but no response was received, prompting them to escalate the issue to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
The committee’s decision highlights the importance of respecting contractual agreements and upholding the rights of employees, particularly in the public sector. While the suspension and fine were meant to hold the mayor accountable, the committee’s decision also reflects a commitment to ensuring that basic services continue without interruption, allowing Mayor Era to continue her duties while also compensating the aggrieved parties.
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