‘Governor Mejorada’ barges into PIO, demands office space for DOH team
Five Capitol employees and an On-The-Job-Trainee witnessed yesterday an office showdown at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.
On the ‘red corner’ was top aide of Governor Niel Tupas Sr., Manuel Mejorada and on the receiving end was longtime Capitol employee, Marylou Sumbing, Provincial Information Officer.
The venue was the Provincial Information Office (PIO) and the reason for the unscheduled “bout”? The purported Executive Department’s order for on office space inside the PIO.
The “showdown,” Sumbing told The News Today (TNT) was caused by the surprise visit of Department of Health (DOH) regional office 6 workers. Turned out, the DOH group was told to occupy one room inside the PIO.
Sumbing was caught off-guard by the supposed Order and requested for a written instruction for her to effect the space allocation.
Simple courtesy and decency, she said, was amiss, alongside the official office Order to such effect.
Barely ten minutes after the DOH group left the PIO located at the Second Floor of the Capitol building, Mejorada barged inside Sumbing’s office. He then questioned and accused Sumbing of preventing the DOH from assuming office while sternly reminding Sumbing “dugay ka na wala diri sa PIO.”
To note, Mejorada caused for the detail of Sumbing to the Tourism Office. Sumbing for her part said the detail order has since lapsed thus the reason for her comeback to her original assignment.
Within seconds thereafter, Sumbing said, the situation led to a shouting match, Mejorada slamming his fist on her table. Sumbing responded by standing up herself and slamming her fist as well while getting the last line out yelling at Mejorada, “who do you think you are in the Capitol?”
Her statement, she explained, was in response to Mejorada’s very own “who do you think you are?” line addressed to her with contempt.
Incidentally, Mejorada at the time of the showdown was starting to serve his early hours as temporary governor. His boss went on official leave and is on an official travel to Manila.
“That’s precisely my point. He is only acting governor and not the governor himself. He immediately issued a memorandum for space allocation. I will not allow any space allocation until the governor himself issues an order to that effect… Mejorada is way too much,” Sumbing said. “And I will definitely file a complaint on what he did.”
Mejorada as “OIC-Governor” issued Memorandum Order 036 Series of 2009 on the now controversial space allocation.
“Per agreement between Gov. Niel D. Tupas Sr. and Regional Director Ariel Valencia of the Center for Health and Development 6, Department of Health, the room of the Public Information Office formerly occupied by Mrs. Gina Subade is assigned to the Department of Health Representatives (DOH Reps.) for their use as work space in the Iloilo Provincial Capitol effective immediately,” “Governor” Mejorada wrote.
By virtue of Executive Order (EO) No. 160, Tupas designated Mejorada as temporary boss of the Governor’s Office. The EO empowers Mejorada “with all the powers, duties and functions of the Governor except the power to appoint, suspend or dismiss personnel and to sign Executive Order” until the governor’s return.
EO 160 took effect yesterday, one move that “amazes” Vice Governor Rolex Suplico.
“Let them all do that at their own risk,” Suplico said. “Mejorada is not an employee of the Iloilo Provincial Government as per position of the Civil Service Commission. So let them assume everything at their own risk – the governor in appointing Mejorada and Mejorada in assuming post.”