Ermita workers unpaid for 4 months

CEBU, Philippines - More than 140 barangay workers in Ermita, Cebu City have not yet received any compensation since the suspension of Barangay Captain Felicisimo Rupinta and seven of his councilmen four months ago.

Ermita barangay treasurer Enriqueta Cabigon said at least 148 barangay officials, tanods, lupong tagapamayapa, health workers, day care teachers, garbage loaders, and drivers did not yet receive their salaries since January.

Rupinta and councilmen Alio Tamundo, Ryan Jay Rosas, Marky Rizaldy Miral, Antonieto Flores, Domingo Ando, Maria Bianghug, and Wilbert Flores were preventively suspended last January for their alleged failure to cooperate with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 during a drug raid in November 2016.

Cabigon said half of the unpaid workers have already looked for another job since they have to sustain the needs of their families while some decided to stay in the name of public service.

“Wa na mi naghuna-huna og sweldo kay naa baya’y daghang moduol sad diri kay mokuha og barangay clearance, para pataod og suga, ug medical assistance,” she said.

Like Cabigon, Argie Dejacto continues to work as a garbage loader even without getting paid for.

“Kay nanghinaut ko nga iglingkod sa among kapitan puhon, masweldohan ra man mi. Unsaon na lang kon dili mi manrabaho, hugaw ug baho na unya,” said Dejacto, who has been working for the barangay for eight years.

Attorney Winifredo Orcullo, who was appointed by Mayor Tomas Osmeña to temporarily assume Rupinta’s post, said he cannot act as the village caretaker since the Department of Interior and Local Government has not yet granted him such authority.

“I was not authorized to sign kay wa man gihapon ko palingkura. Wa man gihapon mo-act ang DILG sa letter ni Mayor,” Orcullo said in a press conference yesterday.

Last February, Osmeña wrote a letter to former DILG secretary Ismael Sueno asking him to allow Orcullo to sign payrolls, permits, vouchers and other necessary documents.  The DILG, however, has not yet responded to Osmeña until now.

Orcullo also said they cannot process the workers’ salaries since the Commission on Audit earlier ordered the Land Bank of the Philippines not to release the barangay's money for failure to liquidate the previous disbursement of funds.

“Wa na ma’y mopirma kay nasuspenso baya among kapitan hasta among official sa finance. Unya karon kinsa ma’y mopirma sa among payroll ug liquidation nga gipangayo sa COA,” Cabigon added.

Rupinta and his councilmen are expected to report back to work in July after serving their six-month preventive suspension. — Charlene Cobol (FREEMAN)