Talisay Hires JVR’s Daughter as Pharmacist

After holding it off for a week, the Talisay City Council on Tuesday finally approved the appointment of Johnson Joy delos Reyes-Pagunsan, daughter of Mayor Johnny V. delos Reyes (JVR).

Last week, the council questioned JVR’s move to make his own daughter, a licensed pharmacist, a caretaker of the city’s newly-opened pharmacy, saying it is nepotism, in which the mayor could be removed from office.

But yesterday, after city lawyer Alfredo Sipalay was able to render a legal opinion on the said appointment, explaining consultancy is not covered by the rules of nepotism, the council made its approval.

City administrator John Yre delos Reyes, brother of the new pharmacist, however, did not like the council’s “delaying” tactic, saying it had only paralyzed the health services of the city.

He said since the pharmacy was closed because of lack of a pharmacist, several indigent patients came to his office and asked where they could get free medicine.

Delos Reyes said the council held the people “hostage” with its “ignorance of the law.”

“Natingala ko nga ilang gi-hold, kay mangayo pa og legal opinion kay basin kuno maigo sa rules on nepotism. Based on an appropriate example, pag-hire nako, confidential in nature biya ko, gi-approve man nila akong appointment, so wa diay maigo sa nepotism rules. Now, ngano’ng nausab man ilang opinion with Joy,” said the city administrator.

Delos Reyes said the appointment of his sister as a consultant is not on a permanent basis.

“If the council would question that, it should have first questioned his appointment as city administrator but it did not, instead they approved it”, he added.