The Civil Service Commission has ruled that the investigating body tasked by Gov. Joseph Marañon to hear the case against Dr. Vicente Ituriaga IV has no jurisdiction to do so.

The committee required under the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers should be the one to hear the case against Ituriaga, the CSC said in Resolution 07-2240 promulgated on Dec. 4, a copy of which was furnished the DAILY STAR by Bombo Radyo.

Late last year, Marañon dismissed Ituriaga, previously assigned at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City , from the service for grave misconduct and soliciting and accepting directly or indirectly anything of monetary value from any person in the course of his official duties.

The CSC pointed out in its resolution that under the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers administrative charges against a public health worker should be heard by a committee composed of the provincial health officer of the province as its chairperson, with one representative from an existing national or provincial health workers' organization, and a supervisor of the district.

The committee should then submit its findings and recommendations to the secretary of health within 30 days from the termination of the hearing.

The CSC noted that, in the case of Ituriaga, it was devolved to provincial officers from the Office of the Governor and the Provincial Legal Office.

Evidently these officials are not those contemplated under the Magna Carta who will constitute the committee empowered to hear Ituriaga's case, the CSC said.

When it comes to administrative discipline of public health workers, including those in the employ of the provincial government, the Local Government Code must yield to the Magna Carta that spells out most distinctly the actual membership of the investigating committee, the CSC added.

The CSC resolution was signed by its chairman Katrina Constantino-David and Commissioners Mary Ann Fernandez-Mendoza and Ceres Buenaflor.*CPG

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