A resolution from the Civil Service Commission has ordered the city government of La Carlota to reinstate Rex Rojo as Sangguniang Panlungsod Secretary and to pay him backwages and other benefits from June 30, 2004 until his actual reinstatement.

Failure to do so will constrain the Commission to cite the concerned city officials in indirect contempt in accordance with its rules without prejudice to the filing of other cases that may be warranted under the circumstances, the CSC Resolution stated.

Signed by commissioner Cesar Buenaflor on Nov. 5, 2007 , the resolution reiterated the order contained in CSC Resolution No. 06-1769 dated Oct. 2, 2006 which directed the city government to pay the backwages and benefits of Rojo. The city government however failed to comply with the order.

Records show that on March 18, 2004 , then Vice Mayor Rex Jalandoon appointed Rojo as SP Secretary under permanent status but his appointment was disapproved by the CSC Field Office since the attached documents were not signed by the city Human Resource Officer.

Vice Mayor Jalandoon appealed the disapproval with the CSC regional office which reversed the order and approved Rojo's appointment on Sept. 20, 2004 .

The subsequent appeal for reconsideration submitted by then mayor Jeffrey Ferrer and Vice Mayor Demie John Honrado, who won the 2004 elections in La Carlota, were as also dismissed by the CSC for lack of merit.

The commission cited Section 82 of the Uniform Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service which provides that the filing and pendency of a petition for review with the Court of Appeals shall not stop the execution of the decision of the Commission unless the Court issues a restraining order or an injunction.

The recent resolution of the CSC also granted the motion for execution filed by Rojo stating that the appeal actually filed with the CA by the city government of La Carlota does not produce the effect of staying the implementation of the assailed decision of the commission in the absence of any TRO issued by the court.

The CSC directs the city government of La Carlota, for the last time, to implement the order within 15 days and failure to do so will constrain the commission to cite the concerned city officials in indirect contempt.

The resolution also directed the CSC regional office to oversee its execution and to submit a report within five days from the expiration of the said execution.*NAB

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