Complaint filed vs. Capitol exec

CEBU, Philippines — A Capitol division head is facing a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged dishonesty.

Peter Polestico, a project evaluation officer of the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), but whose plantilla indicated him as a division chief, reportedly registered himself as a voter of Barangay Buagsong, Cordova, when he does not have a single property or dwelling in the area.

“I have also discovered based on the account from the Office of the Barangay Chairman that Mr. Peter Polestico’s personality and his family is a non-existent resident,” an identified complainant wrote.

In the letter to the Ombudsman, an anonymous author accused Polestico of dishonesty and requested Deputy Ombudsman Elmer Paul Clemente to investigate the matter.

Polestico, however, is suspicious about the filing of the complaint against him.

“These people behind this letter, destroying people but don’t have the balls to write their names (on the letter)? I’m 100 percent sure that they are just here in the office sitting down doing nothing whole day. They are paid. They’re going in and out. I am the supervisor. I can see them,” Polestico said.

He confirmed that he has no property in Cordova, as stated in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN). His house is located in Kalunasan, Cebu City.

The anti-graft office received the letter-complaint last December 12.

“His violation is unacceptable, improper behavior, especially by an employee or a professional person like him. Likewise, a violation of the Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees,” wrote the complainant.

Polestico said that it is true that he is a registered voter of Cordova despite residing in Cebu City.

He said that he registered at Cordova after a provincial consultant, whom he did not name, verbally recommended he should become a voter of Cebu Province when he applied for a post at the Capitol.

Meanwhile, Human Resources Head Bonifer Nacorda said being a registered voter of the province is not a requirement to become a Capitol employee.

“For permanent employees, we follow the Civil Service criteria: education, eligibility, experience and training. Naka-comply siya sa upat ka criteria. Ang concern ani is if the declared information is true or not,” Nacorda said.

PPDO Head Florentino Nimor Jr. said that he is planning to retire soon and Polestico reportedly is a potential candidate to become a department head.

He believes that there is malice involved in the filing of the case against Polestico.

Nimor expressed full confidence in Polestico and said that the latter is “more qualified” to be the department head than him.

He added that Polestico was commissioned by the Philippine government to study abroad on how to better run the government systems and is reportedly “very experienced,” (FREEMAN)