Councilor to Press Charges vs Heads

Cebu City Councilor Gerardo “Gerry” Carillo announced on Wednesday that he will file appropriate charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against department heads who will continue to snub the City Council’s invitation to attend the executive session set on August 20.

City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete, Budget Officer Nelfa Briones, City Treasurer Tessie Camarillo and City Accountant Diwa Cuevas did not attend the public hearing at the City Council on Wednesday.

The mayor earlier announced that he does not want his department heads, particularly the members of the Local Finance Committee, to be grilled by the city legislators in a public hearing because it is not yet the right time.

Carillo, a trial lawyer by profession, said if the City Hall department heads will continue to snub the invitations for them to appear before the City Council, it could be a ground for the filing of charges for violating the provisions of Republic Act 6713.

The Code of Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees provides that government officials and employees should respond to requests and even answer letters and other communications sent to them.

But Mayor Michael Rama said he is not afraid of Carillo’s threat to file charges against the department heads just because they will not appear before the City Council. The mayor, who is also a lawyer, said his department heads would not violate the law by not appearing before the council.

“Hulga-hulga siya nga ikiha niya ang akong mga department heads? Basin siya baya ang masumbalikan og kiha. Sa inyong bana-bana kinsa kaha’y angay’ng ikiha,” the mayor asked.

Carillo was earlier accused as the one who hit a boy’s head with a stone during a commotion along Pelaez Street a few weeks ago.

Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña, head of the City Council’s committee on budget and finance, explained that they just want to let the public know of the city’s financial status that is why they scheduled a public hearing.

For his part, Councilor Alvin Dizon said the administration of Rama should strictly comply with what the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo told all local government units about full transparency.

“On the premise that public coffers are public trust and that the people have the legal and moral right to know where their money is spent, the former DILG secretary introduced the full disclosure policy in the government,” said Dizon.

Before the start of the public hearing, City Administrator Poblete just sent a letter addressed to the council’s secretariat saying they cannot attend because it is not yet the right time for them to discuss financial matters.

The mayor earlier said he may allow his department heads to appear before the City Council but it should be made during an executive session and not during a public hearing where the city legislators may scold them before the public.

Carillo suggested to hold an executive session on August 20 and the same department heads will be invited again to discuss the issues raised by the COA about the city’s financial matters, particularly the report that the city has an overdraft of P965 million as of December.

On Wednesday’s public hearing, the Commission on Audit (COA) sent state auditor Emmanuel Tampus to attend but he does not have enough knowledge about the City’s financial issues. He was also not authorized to answer sensitive questions.

Rama said when the executive department will submit the proposed Annual Budget for 2014 or a Supplemental Budget for this year, “it is the exact time that the members of the Local Finance Committee will face the city legislators.”He said.