CEBU, Philippines — “Insubordination and loss of trust" are possible issues that Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) General Manager (GM) Edgar Donoso will be facing after he reportedly failed to attend meetings called by the newly-appointed chairman of the board.
MCWD Chairman Mel Feliciano, who was appointed by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama recently, said that “insubordination and loss of trust" are possible grounds they could take up against Donoso that would back Rama's call to remove the latter from the office.
In an interview yesterday, Feliciano told the members of the media that the mayor's call to remove Donoso as MCWD's GM is yet to be discussed with the members of the board.
However, he said they are not closing their doors to heed the call to remove Donoso, saying they have experienced instances of "insubordination” by him.
"Naa mi nakita na murag insubordination tungod sa iyaha kay mag meeting mi dili sya mu attend, unya nag issue og statement that status quo so he is recognizing the old board," said Feliciano.
Last November 16,2023, Rama called for the removal of Donoso after the latter and other officials of MCWD employees organizations issued an "advisory" declaring support for a "status quo," which essentially means backing MCWD Chairman Jose Daluz III, Miguelito Pato, and Jodelyn Seno to remain as part of the board of directors even after Rama has called for their replacement.
Daluz, Pato, and Seno were replaced by retired general Feliciano, Atty. Aristotle Batuhan, and businessman Nelson Yuballos, whom Rama appointed last October 31, 2023.
Further, aside from insubordination, Feliciano mentioned a particular instance wherein Donoso refused to tell them details of a certain project during their first meeting at the MCWD board room.
"He said none (project), but later on there was this scheduled (project)," said Feliciano.
In this manner, Feliciano further said that they are also experiencing a loss of trust in Donoso. With these two factors, Feliciano said they will be evaluating this with members of the board as grounds for his possible removal.
Felicano, however, said that it is not just up to him but also the members of the board.
Donoso has previously said he will continue to defer to the wisdom of the same set of directors who appointed him after he was asked for his statement on Rama’s call to remove him from office.
“It is important to note that Section 23 of PD 198 as amended stipulates that the Board shall appoint a general manager, define his duties, and fix his compensation, and said officers can only be removed from office for cause and after due process,” he specifically noted in his statement.
Acting mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia refused to comment on the situation pending the result of their meeting with the Cebu City Legal and some other city councilors.
Mayor Mike Rama, who is still in Australia for a vacation, reiterated his call to acting mayor Raymond Garcia via a live feed during the City Hall employees’ flag raising ceremony to sit down with Atty. Collin Rossel and Jerone Castillo and the City Legal Office concerning the appointments.
Rama said he wants Garcia to be briefed on the details on the issues concerning MCWD and take appropriate action on it.
“He will be properly briefed aron ang action that we will pursue will not be on the basis of emotion, but be factual and anchored by the rule of law,” Mayor Rama said. — (FREEMAN)