After appointments disapproved: Rama, 2 others to refund P3M

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Audit has directed suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and two other City Hall officials to refund the city a total of P3.3 million, representing the salaries and other benefits received by the concerned mayor's trusted aides after their appointments were disapproved by the Civil Service Commission.

State auditor Cymbeline Celia Uy reminded Rama, City Administrator Lucelle Mercado and Rama's executive secretary Belinda Navascues that the Notices of Disallowance shall become final and executory if it is not appealed within six months. The two separate orders were issued last February 9 and February 26, 2016.

Mercado was directed to refund P2,276,693 which she received as her salary, representation allowances and honoraria for being a member of the various City Hall committees since February 2014 up to December 2015. COA also ordered Navascues to refund P1,028,625 for her salary, allowances, and honoraria.

During an interview with The FREEMAN last night, Navascues claimed that she did not know why her appointment was disapproved by the CSC. However, a reliable source at the City Hall said Navascues' appointment was disapproved because of her age.

Navascues had already retired from the government service after serving for several years in Cebu City Hall, but Rama hired her to work as his executive secretary.

"Wala pa ko makadawat sa kopya sa Notice of Disallowance. Mo-fight g'yud ko niini kay gitrabahoan gud nako na, unsa man sa'y akong ibayad ug pabayron ko?" said Navascues.

Mercado was not available for comment as she was abroad.

Mercado is receiving a net monthly salary of P40,725 but also receives honoraria as a member of Bids and Awards Committee, Market Authority, Joint Venture Selection Committee, Committee on Awards, City Transportation Office, Local Finance Committee, City Zoning Board, City Disaster Coordinating Council, City Nutrition Council, Program on Awards, Incentives for Business Excellence, City Scholarship Committee, Personnel Selection Board, and South Road Properties Interim Policy and Management Coordinating Board.

Navascues is also member of four different committees. Committee members are entitled to a P1,000 per diem whenever they attend meetings and usually the committees meet every week.

Several months ago, before Rama was suspended from the service by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the City Legal Office already filed a Petition for Review before the appellate court questioning the CSC resolution that disapproved the appointments of both Mercado and Navascues and the issuance of the Notices of Disallowance.

However, the Civil Service Commission explained that even if the concerned government personnel had filed a Petition for Review with the Court of Appeals it shall not stop the execution of the decision of the commission unless the court issues a restraining order or an injunction.

Section 120 of the Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service provides that "the filing and pendency of a petition for review with the Court of Appeals or certiorari with the Supreme Court shall not stop the execution of the decision of the CSC unless the Court issues a restraining order or an injunction."

The law further provides that "any officer or employee who willfully refuses or fails to implement the final resolution, decision, order or ruling of the Commission to the prejudice of the public service and the affected party, may be cited in indirect contempt of the Commission and may be administratively charged with Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Services or Neglect of Duty or be held criminally liable under Section 67 of Book V, of Executive Order 292 or the Administrative Code of 1987."

Rama told The FREEMAN last night that she will attend to the case once he returns to Cebu from his vacation this weekend. — /BRP (FREEMAN)