North Cotabato town mayor to defy CSC order

KIDAPAWAN CITY - Atown mayor in North Cotabato has refused to heed to an order of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to reinstate the town’s municipal budget officer he sacked in July 2013. Magpet mayor Florenito Gonzaga said he has already lost trust and confidence on Erly Baude, former municipal budget officer whom he said failed miserably in her duties. Gonzaga said Baude’s performance was rated poor by a team he organized in 2013. Baude was hired in 2004 by former town mayor and now vice-mayor Efren Pinol as the budget officer. When Gonzaga assumed post in July 2013, he ordered the transfer of Baude and three other department managers to another assignments. Of the four, however, Baude was dropped from rolls in July 2015 for poor performance, the mayor said. Also, in 2015, Gonzaga filed graft and corruption charges against Baude and four others, including the town’s vice mayor, Efren Pinol, for alleged misuse of funds. The mayor also cited Baude’s character as one of the reasons why he lost his trust and confidence on her. Baude was expelled as a member of the Magpet LGU Employees Association because of her [problematic] character,” said the chief executive. Baude has refused to comment on the graft charges she’s facing at the Ombudsman. I will just wait for the Ombudsman’s decision on my case,” she said. On November 6, 2014, the CSC central office ordered Gonzaga to reinstate Baude as municipal budget officer and to pay her representation and transportation allowance (RATA) from July 2013 up to her reinstatement. The CSC has again issued a notice of resolution of such case on September 2. The mayor was also directed to explain in writing and under oath within a non-extendable period of 10 days from his receipt of the CSC resolution on why he should not be cited for indirectcontempt for failure to implement such lawful order. Gonzaga received such resolution last week. He said he will explain in writing and submit such to the commission before the deadline. But citing valid reasons, he won’t, in any way, reinstate Baude as the town’s budget officer and pay her RATA.