Supreme Court sacks
Silay RTC employee
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Supreme Court en banc has dismissed a court stenographer of a Regional Trial Court in Silay City, Negros Occidental, for gross negligence of duty.

Silay RTC Branch 69 Judge Felipe G. Banzon had filed the complaint against Ruby B. Hechanova, Court Stenographer III,   for her continued refusal to transcribe her stenographic notes.

“As a stenographer, she should have realized that the performance of her duty is essential to the prompt and proper administration of justice, and her inaction hampers the administration of justice and erodes public faith in the judiciary,” the SC said.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia has ordered three regular employees placed under preventive suspension for 30 days without pay while a formal administrative investigation is being conducted on them.

Under administrative investigations are Traffic Aides 1 Germale Federico and Arnel Mondejar for reported unauthorized absences and tardiness, and Othelo Ramos of the Public Order and Safety Office, for complaints of grave misconduct and abuse of authority filed against him by casual employee Roberto Halili.

Federico and Mondejar have requested the mayor to lift the preventive suspension order he issued against them Tuesday, which they claimed was not in order, was illegal and unconstitutional.

The body of a taxi driver with 23 stab wounds was found in a canal Thursday at Hacienda Panaogao 3, Brgy. 4 poblacion, Silay City.

The victim was identified by the police as Ivan Saludar, of Brgy. Handumanan, Bacolod City, who is believed to have been robbed before he was killed.

The taxi of Saludar with bloodstains at the back seat, was found at Camonsil Street, CL Montelibano Drive in Brgy. Villamonte, Bacolod City, at about 7 a.m. Thursday..