Boatmen ask Ombudsman: Implement suspension vs ‘arrogant’ mayor

CEBU, Philippines - Two boatmen are asking the Office of the Ombudsman to implement the suspension order against Santa Fe, Cebu Mayor Jose Esgana.

Island Shipping Corporation employees Rodolfo Solidor and Carl Martin Absalon opposed the motion for reconsideration filed by Esgana, who is seeking dismissal of the case, and want the anti-graft body to implement the suspension.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales approved on August 11 the suspension of Esgana for three months without pay after he was found guilty of administrative complaint for violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards.

The mayor allegedly acted arrogant towards Solidor and Absalon when he boarded LCT Island II on June 4 and June 9, 2015, respectively, at the port of Santa Fe.

Solidor and Absalon are designated as sea marshals tasked to check the tickets of passengers aboard its vessels as well as the bill of lading of rolling cargoes.

In his counter-affidavit, Esgana admitted the allegations and his statements were reiterated in the supporting affidavits of his witnesses, Lucresito Labores and Denmar Pacinio.

However, in his motion for reconsideration, Esgana claimed that his counter-affidavit and his witnesses were not truly reflective of what really transpired on both dates and put the blame on his lawyer.

"…he trusted lawyer Elnar to the extent that when he was asked to sign his aforementioned Counter-Affidavit, he was in haste as he had to attend to another important meeting that he just affixed his signature without reading its contents…" read a portion of Esgana's motion for reconsideration prepared by his new counsel, Ferdinand Dungog.

But such defense "is absolutely weak and is contrary to human experience," the complainants said.

"How can the lawyer prepare the Counter-Affidavit without the respondent telling the former the latter's version of the events? Why should the lawyer fabricate a false story to the prejudice of his client? Clearly, this is just a desperate act of the respondent to cover-up the truth behind his arrogant acts," read the complainants' opposition prepared by their counsel, Judiel Pareja.

The anti-graft office has ruled that the complainants' clear narration of the events established a pattern of behavior on the part of Esgana.

"Respondent, by demonstrating arrogant and acrimonious behavior towards complainants while the latter were only performing the responsibilities they were hired to do, patently failed to live up to such standards," the decision reads.

It added that the respondent's transgression erodes the public's trust in government officials and emplo-yees. While holding the esteemed position of mayor of Sta. Fe, Esgana degraded his position by furnishing the public with a glaring example of undesirable behavior, according to the anti-graft office. (FREEMAN)