CATBALOGAN, Samar –
Around ninety percent of the total 1,167 rank-and-file employees of the
provincial government here are set to join the one day “mass walk and work
stoppage” cum indignation rally to protest the continued refusal of Governor
Milagrosa Tan to give them a higher additional bonus.
In a phone interview, Mr.
Hermie Sanchez, president of the Alliance of Samar Provincial Employees (ASPE)
confirmed this information but quickly clarified that this was not through
their initiative but of the whole employees who hold secret “caucus” during
office hours.
“Yes, that information you
got is true. In fact, some of the employees are now busy making some
streamers, banners and leaflets condemning this act of the governor,”
Sanchez said adding that these materials will be carried by the protesters
during the coming protest rally come next week.
“(But) let me just clarify
that this move was not through our initiative, though this was a welcome
move for us. We are even happy that there were employees and other group
that are now moving fighting this kind of endeavor,” Sanchez said.
The convenor group, however,
announced that the supposed protest rally that was earlier reported to be
held on January 6, this year, was postponed until next week due to the
following reasons: unreadiness of the streamers, banners and leaflet;
documents that will support the alleged graft and corruption of the
provincial government and unavailability of some important speakers.
It was learned that some key
players on the issue were also invited to talk during the event such as from
the national headquarters of the COURAGE. The print and television reporters
covering the Capitol and some reporters from giant media outlets in Manila
were also invited to cover the event.
“We have to wait for this, a
big event for us and the Samarnons. So, it’s only proper that the people
will know about the issue and what was happening in the present
administration.
Meanwhile, the issue stemmed
when Gov. Tan announced that there will only be a P1,000 additional
Christmas bonus each worker unheeding the directive of President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo to release P5,000 for each government workers. The order of
the President was released through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
to the governors, city and municipal mayors nationwide.
But when employees were
given only P1,000 each, silent protest looms. They started it by wearing
black t-shirts, not reporting to work, and refused to process their vouchers
and refused to claim the “small slice” of their bonus.
Some of them wore black
t-shirts as “their protest” and threatened to continue doing so until
provincial government to give in to their demands, which they said, first
time to happen in this province. “We will be constrained to do this until
the governor will heed our demand,” a certain “Mary,” one of the employee
said.
The complaining employees
said it would be an insult to them if they will accept that amount while we
knew that other government workers received a minimum of P5,000 up to 12,000
as cash gifts and bonuses.
They also contested that
Gov. Tan, who purportedly gave the mayors Christmas bonuses ranging from
P25,000 to P100,000 on top of other projects, why the employees were only
given P1,000.
When asked why is that so,
some of the employees hinted that and said: “She got only 30 votes out of
total number of employees here, that is why, she 'personalized' us.”
This writer tried to reach
Gov. Tan in the Capitol, in her official residence at Himyangan, and even in
her residence in Brgy. Mercedes, but was told the governor is in Manila for
official business. To really get her side, this paper sent text and called
the governor and her staff, but never bothered to send a reply messages.
In an interview,
Vice-Governor Jesus B. Redaja said he should not be included in the blame
because, according to him, he did all his best to grant the employees of the
exact P5,000 bonus but to no avail.
He said, his effort has even
resulted in a “heated confrontation” with SP member Joseph Escober, an
ex-officio ABC chair, believed to be on the side of the governor.
“Actually, there is fund for
that P5,000 extra-bonus. In fact, when the governor requested to revert that
nearly P25 million for other purposes, the latter disapproved and the
reversion of the nearly P25 million was approved by the provincial board
members unanimously,” VG Redaja surmised.
In earlier pronouncements,
the governor vehemently denied all accusations hurled against her saying
this all “mere fabricated and done to discredit her.”
But some groups here,
boasting they have strong evidence and witnesses strongly believed there
were "graft and corrupt practices" happening in the administration of Tan.
Some of them even filed a graft charge in the Ombudsman in Manila, hoping
that the case would move and eventually be tried by the Sandiganbayan this
year.
