238 Danao casuals to get backwages soon

CEBU, Philippines - The 238 casual employees of the Vice Mayor’s Office of Danao City who were not paid by the previous administration will finally get their backwages after they have complied with the court order to post P450,000 additional injunction bond.

The Regional Trial Court in Danao City issued the writ of preliminary injunction after presiding Judge Jerry Dicdican approved the injunction bond put up by the plaintiffs.

In an order dated July 29, 2013 signed by clerk of court Isidro Bongcayao Jr., respondents former mayor Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr., Budget Officer Teresita Almacen and Galacito Camaongay, officer-in-charge of   the City Human Resource Management Office, were ordered to desist from enforcing the memorandum dated July 9, 2012.

The said memorandum suspended the processing and payments of the salaries, wages and benefits of the 238 casual employees for the months of June to September 2012.

In a resolution dated June 25, 2013 earlier issued by the court, Dicdican granted the writ of preliminary injunction asked by the petitioners.

Dicdican, in the same resolution, ordered them to post a bond of P450,000 to cover the damages and costs in case the court decides that they are not entitled to backwages.

The petitioners paid the bond on June 26, 2013.

The petitioners earlier posted the amount of P50,000 bond for the issuance of the temporary restraining order.

RTC Judge Sylvia Aguirre-Pederanga was the one who earlier issued a TRO which in effect ordered city officials to pay the salaries and benefits of their 238 casual workers but former mayor Durano refused to heed the court order. 

Boy lost to his brother, Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III, who was then the vice mayor when the case was filed.

Of the 250 casual employees whose salaries were withheld by Boy, only 238 filed a complaint against the former mayor for refusing to pay their salaries, wages, and benefits and accused him of grave abuse of authority, oppression and violation of human rights, serious misconduct, dereliction of duty, and unsatisfactory conduct prejudicial to the service.

The case was filed in the middle of the political tussle between the two Durano brothers who ran against each other for mayor in the May 13 elections from being allies in 2010 and in previous elections.  (FREEMAN)