“Don’t get caught”: Tomas warns ‘extortionists’ in City Hall

CEBU, Philippines - “Don’t get caught.”

This was the warning of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña to City Hall employees who may be planning to engage in extortion.

Osmeña, who assumed office yesterday noon, said he will not hesitate to terminate any employee who will be guilty of extortion.

“And my policy here is that you’re innocent until proven guilty, but if I appoint you but I hear something about you, you are guilty until you’ve proven you’re innocent,” he told reporters in a press conference yesterday.

Osmeña said he appoints and hires employees because of trust and confidence. Once he gets feedbacks of inefficient performance, he will fire these employees.

“I’m like that, that’s why they will say I’m strict. I like to send reminders to those who don’t know me. For my very first year as mayor, I suspended 400 people. Most of them were my appointees. They can’t say I can’t fire them because they’re BOPK, there’s no such thing as that,” he said.

Osmeña was referring to his party, Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).

He said he has given that message to all City Hall employees since he has a different “kind of religion” in administering City Hall.

Citing an example, Osmeña said he once terminated an employee who was caught extorting two kilos of sotanghon.

The employee, Osmeña said, was in his 29th year in service and was expected to retire the next year. Despite this, Osmeña said the employee was not given a second chance.

“Basta mokawat og kwarta bisan gamay, you’re terminated, basta kawat. Daghan kaayo tinunto diri; di ko ganahan nga maghuwat sila kay entitled sila sa second chance,” he said.

Osmeña believed that the Cebu City Medical Center is a “model of the ongoing corruption in City Hall.”

There are several offices that employ gimmicks such as stealing dextrose, light bulb, toilet papers, and medicines, among others.

The mayor said he will have Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos, who was given an executive function to run CCMC, correct the “wrong doings” at CCMC.

Furthermore, Osmeña said he has signed the re-appointment document of most of the 3,000 casual employees who were supposed to end their contracts yesterday.

“Generally speaking, we have renewed several. If you’re not renewed, you’re gone. And many of those who were renewed only for 30 days,” he said, adding that the one month given is for the employees’ evaluation and for the City Hall to look for their replacement.

The mayor said he also intends to bring down the “very bloated” payroll. After learning that every ambulance has 20 personnel, the mayor thinks that the payroll is being politicized.

As to the appointment of new department heads, Osmeña said he is still looking at the needs of the city and will respond accordingly and not just appoint anyone for the sake of new appointments.

He added he does not believe in the filling up regular positions as a general rule since regular employees end up being lazy.

“The contractuals are acting more productive than the regular employees. The regular employees can’t be touched, that’s basically CCMC. And that’s where we are wasting money. Many of these people can’t find the job in the private sector so they will cling on to their life in City Hall because no one will hire them outside,” he said.

“There are many contractuals accompanied by BOPK leaders, they tell them to get them a job in City Hall. I call these classifications as spoiled brats; I don’t need them. I told their leaders they’re too lazy to find a job because they don’t come and they just send you. I don’t hire people like that,” he added.

As to his priorities, Osmeña said he will focus on two things – one is “housekeeping” or putting all things back in order and the other one is building the city’s good areas.

“One is defensive, one is aggressive. What are the things that will drag us down? You know already, drugs, traffic, garbage that’s all defensive. We need to look where we are strong and we will concentrate on that. Were we strong in bringing business, we were strong in call centers so we will concentrate on that,” he said.  (FREEMAN)