Ermita caretaker finally takes over

CEBU, Philippines - After a week of uncertainty, barangay workers and residents have agreed to allow the person Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña designated to oversee the operation in Ermita in the meantime while all of their elected officials are still serving their six-month preventive suspension.

An agreement was after City Market Administrator Winefredo Orcullo Jr. had a “cordial meeting” with Department of Interior and Local Government City Acting Director Emma Joyevelyn Calvo, SPO1 Adonis Dumpit, suspended barangay captain Felicisimo Rupinta, and barangay workers at the Ermita multi-purpose hall yesterday.

It was Orcullo whom the mayor named as Ermita’s caretaker while Rupinta and all his councilmen are still under suspension.

“Ang amo is smooth ang turnover ba. Giistoryaan na nako together with DILG, gistoryaan na namo si kapitan Rupinta, nga nia ko diri to oversee lang sa operations sa barangay, nga sigurado ang delivery of basic services ba, ma-render lang gyud. Daghan man sad sila’g concerns gihatag nako ron. So mao ra say akong dal-on sa City Hall,” Orcullo told reporters after the meeting.

Last week, barangay residents and workers padlocked the multi-purpose hall twice, preventing Orcullo from entering the premises.

Orcullo said he initiated the meeting to discuss the concerns of the barangay, especially the giving of salaries of all barangay workers for two months, and the electric and water bills, among others.

He said, though, that barangay workers cannot get their salaries tomorrow, as is the schedule, since no one can sign the vouchers.

“Wa pa man ‘tay authority gi-grant sa DILG ana. So mangita lang ko’g paagi ani…. Istoryaon nako ang (city) treasurer, kay wala pa si mayor (Osmeña), kung pwede ba. Naa bay laing remedy nga ang city ang mobayad, if possible. Tan-awon pa nato tanan,” he said.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said he has advised Rupinta to give access to the DILG and Orcullo to the multi-purpose hall.

Rupinta, for his part, said he is now at ease that there is someone who will oversee the operation of the barangay while he is serving his suspension.

“At least nagaan-gaan akong abaga. Kay ang problema sa mga tawo basin matabangan, labi na ang sweldo. Siya maningkamot matabangan ang immediate problema namo diri,” he said.

Rupinta said he has not received information yet on his petition to secure a temporary restraining order from the Court of Appeals.

He said all barangay officials, including him, has not received their salaries last month. He was surrounded by residents when interviewed by reporters outside Ermita’s multipurpose hall yesterday.

Sofio Miral, one of the members of lupong tagapamayapa members of the barangay, said they will not let anyone sit in the barangay as temporary official.

She said, though, that Orcullo can visit the multipurpose hall anytime but he should not stay there since there is no order yet from Malacañang on his appointment as caretaker of the barangay.

“Mosugot ra mi’g naay mag-opisina dinha sa barangay hall kung dunay papeles nga gipirmahan sa presidente,” Miral said.

It was last January 31 when DILG implemented the six-month preventive suspension against all elected officials of Ermita for their alleged failure to assist an anti-drug operation in the barangay last year. —/RHM (FREEMAN)