Bercede to help families of 26 suspended workers

CEBU, Philippines — Mandaue City Mayor Glenn Bercede has pledged support for the families of 26 city officials and job order (JO) employees who were suspended for nine months without pay after the Office of the Ombudsman found them administratively guilty of “conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.”

Bercede told reporters in an interview that he called the JOs to his office, where they, along with their families, discussed possible ways to assist them.

“Nanganha na sila kay maluoy man ta nila nga nasuspenso,” said Bercede.

The city mayor assured that he would provide whatever assistance the city can offer to each affected family, especially if there is enough budget available.

He added that family members of the suspended employees may be considered as replacements for their positions and assured that they would be given priority by the city.

“We will hire them if dunay available budget,” said Bercede.

The mayor, who sympathized with the situation of the JOs, said that hiring a qualified family member would be a good option to help support their families.

He also noted that since the hiring of the suspended employees was already budgeted for the year, the funds were available but remained unutilized due to the suspension.

Bercede said the city would assess if there is still available budget for unfilled positions, and if funds permit, the relatives of the suspended employees will be accommodated.

He added that the initiative aims to provide financial support to the affected families and ensure they have opportunities to sustain their livelihood.

Currently, the motion for reconsideration filed by the 26 officials and JO employees of Mandaue City is still pending before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Maria Priscilla S. Melendres and Maritoni S. Melendres, who accused the officials and employees of unlawfully padlocking and implementing a notice to demolish a disputed property in Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City, on May 3, 2023.

The complainants filed criminal and administrative cases against Housing and Urban Development Office (HUDO) Head Johnbee Biton, Assistant City Assessor Julius Ceasar Entise, Janitorial and Security Services Unit Head Teodorico Montojo II, Janitorial and Security Services employee Pedrito Inalem, and 22 other City Hall workers.

Entise had previously voiced particular concern for the affected JO employees, noting that their suspension means an immediate loss of income due to the "no work, no pay" policy they follow.

“Ako nagguol ko pero mas nagguol ko sa mga JOs kay no work, no pay na sila,” Entise lamented.

While regular employees would receive back pay if the decision is reversed, JO workers will not, placing them in a more precarious position.

“Mao nay nakasakit sa akong buot. Sakit pamalandungon kay nanrabaho ra ang JOs,” he added, stressing that the JO employees were merely executing their assigned tasks.

Apart from the administrative motion for reconsideration, the respondents had previously filed a motion in their criminal case on February 6, 2025. The Ombudsman had also found probable cause to indict them for violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, on July 9, 2024. —FPL (CEBU NEWS)