Tupas to Capitol chiefs: 'Disregard SP say on Mejorada, Cabaluna's employ'
Mejorada
Notice to all Capitol department heads: Manuel Mejorada and lawyer Salvador Cabaluna III remain as provincial administrator and provincial legal officer, respectively. While at it, disregard the Resolution of the 9th Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) stating otherwise.
Such is now the latest declaration of Governor Niel Tupas Sr. in a Memorandum issued to all office chiefs of the Iloilo Provincial Government.
The Memorandum was apparently passed to clear the air regarding the status of the two Capitol personalities earlier subject of legislative action.
Cabaluna
"The authority to appoint the above-mentioned mandatory co-terminus positions exclusively belongs to the Governor based on trust and confidence. The two (2) officers have long been appointed by me and in fact, their appointments were duly confirmed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. It is also the Governor who can terminate their services," excerpts of the Memorandum went. "It is for the record that I have not terminated the services of the subject two (2) officers for they continue to enjoy my trust and confidence. Pursuant thereof, they shall continue to perform and discharge the duties, functions and responsibilities attached to their respective offices."
And the governor did not stop there.
"The Sanggunian Panlalawigan has no authority to declare the two (2) positions vacant nor the power to dismiss the government employees by mere adoption of a resolution," Tupas added.
The Memoramdum was issued yesterday.
To note though, it was not the SP which declared the said positions vacant but the Civil Service Commission (CSC) regional office 6. This following an earlier clarification sought by the SP body amidst the unresolved controversy as to whether the two are government officials de jure.
The Memorandum also stated "The two (2) officers have long been appointed by me and in fact, their appointments were duly confirmed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan."
The Memorandum though is silent as to whether or not the confirmation was issued by the present SP.
The News Today (TNT) learned that copies were obtained by the SP members and was set to be discussed in yesterday's special session.