ANGELES CITY – The camp of Mayor Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno has assailed Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting for allegedly violating the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) procedures on foreign travels after she pursued a four-day trip to Macau last year.
In statements issued yesterday, Nepomuceno said “Cabigting has also joined the October 25-28, 2008 travel to Macau without filing her leave of absence and collecting her salary amounting to over P16,000 at the Angeles City Hall.”
In a phone interview, Cabigting said “this is pure harassment again.” She stressed that she had followed the “the proper procedures in applying for a trip last year.”
“Nepomuceno and his allies are the ones politicking and not me as they claimed earlier,” said Cabigting. She was referring to the press statements of Nepomuceno last week stating that she was doing a political stunt when she sued Nepomuceno on January 30 before the Ombudsman in connection with the submission of the 2008 annual budget.
“I question the timing. Why only now,” added Cabigting. She disclosed that she had documents coming from the city government indicating that she followed the procedures in pursuing the trip.
Cabigting said Lourdes Naguiat, sister-in-law of the mayor and now head of the city information office (CIO) had signed her leave form on behalf of Nepomuceno.
“Lourdes Naguiat had been signing for the mayor. If there is a problem with that, I think they should be liable to it,” added Cabigting.
In a letter dated October 21, 2008, Cabigting informed the office of Mayor Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno that she had been invited for a trip to Macau to observe “sound tourism practices.”
DILG Director Rolando M. Acosta, however, informed the city government that they “cannot act favorably on the said request in view of the failure to comply with the 10 calendar day processing period prior to actual departure,” according to the mayor’s statements.
Acosta also noted that Cabigting “may still pursue the said trip while on a leave of absence” but the latter had also failed to file the same which rendered her AWOL.
In an administrative complaint lodged against Cabigting by Councilor Agapito Del Rosario, it noted that “two unmistakable improprieties were committed hereon by the respondent and these were the following: (1) Prior to undertaking the supposed trip to Macau, China, they did not secure the required permission or travel authority from the DILG; and (2) She did not apply for leave of absence during the period October 25-28, 2008.
The complaint indicated that “these actuations of the respondent amounted to grave misconduct since they are inimical to public service warranting appropriate sanctions.”
Del Rosario has charged Cabigting of “grave misconduct” for violating DILG laws and subsequent failure to file for leave of absence.
“By her conduct, the respondent violated the yardstick of public service imposed in Section 1, Article XI of the Constitution which enunciates the state policy of promoting a high standard of ethics and utmost responsibility in the public service,” the complaint indicated.
“The principle is that when an officer or employee is disciplined, the object sought is not the punishment of such officer or employee but the improvement of the public service and the preservation of the public’s faith and confidence in the government.
“For these reasons, the respondent should be held liable and appropriate sanctions be meted against her.”
Cabigting is also facing other administrative cases such as malversation of public property for her refusal to surrender government vehicle to the General Services Office; grave misconduct for her refusal to consider as approved the Executive Budget Calendar Year 2008 despite majority votes of the Council members; election offense; mandamus and injunction; and another mandamus for her refusal to release the salaries and benefits of ABC President Robin Nepomuceno and to say payroll.
The City Information Office said Cabigting had been resorting to mudslinging to cover up the many improprieties she herself has committed in her capacity as a public official.”
In statements issued yesterday, Nepomuceno said “Cabigting has also joined the October 25-28, 2008 travel to Macau without filing her leave of absence and collecting her salary amounting to over P16,000 at the Angeles City Hall.”
In a phone interview, Cabigting said “this is pure harassment again.” She stressed that she had followed the “the proper procedures in applying for a trip last year.”
“Nepomuceno and his allies are the ones politicking and not me as they claimed earlier,” said Cabigting. She was referring to the press statements of Nepomuceno last week stating that she was doing a political stunt when she sued Nepomuceno on January 30 before the Ombudsman in connection with the submission of the 2008 annual budget.
“I question the timing. Why only now,” added Cabigting. She disclosed that she had documents coming from the city government indicating that she followed the procedures in pursuing the trip.
Cabigting said Lourdes Naguiat, sister-in-law of the mayor and now head of the city information office (CIO) had signed her leave form on behalf of Nepomuceno.
“Lourdes Naguiat had been signing for the mayor. If there is a problem with that, I think they should be liable to it,” added Cabigting.
In a letter dated October 21, 2008, Cabigting informed the office of Mayor Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno that she had been invited for a trip to Macau to observe “sound tourism practices.”
DILG Director Rolando M. Acosta, however, informed the city government that they “cannot act favorably on the said request in view of the failure to comply with the 10 calendar day processing period prior to actual departure,” according to the mayor’s statements.
Acosta also noted that Cabigting “may still pursue the said trip while on a leave of absence” but the latter had also failed to file the same which rendered her AWOL.
In an administrative complaint lodged against Cabigting by Councilor Agapito Del Rosario, it noted that “two unmistakable improprieties were committed hereon by the respondent and these were the following: (1) Prior to undertaking the supposed trip to Macau, China, they did not secure the required permission or travel authority from the DILG; and (2) She did not apply for leave of absence during the period October 25-28, 2008.
The complaint indicated that “these actuations of the respondent amounted to grave misconduct since they are inimical to public service warranting appropriate sanctions.”
Del Rosario has charged Cabigting of “grave misconduct” for violating DILG laws and subsequent failure to file for leave of absence.
“By her conduct, the respondent violated the yardstick of public service imposed in Section 1, Article XI of the Constitution which enunciates the state policy of promoting a high standard of ethics and utmost responsibility in the public service,” the complaint indicated.
“The principle is that when an officer or employee is disciplined, the object sought is not the punishment of such officer or employee but the improvement of the public service and the preservation of the public’s faith and confidence in the government.
“For these reasons, the respondent should be held liable and appropriate sanctions be meted against her.”
Cabigting is also facing other administrative cases such as malversation of public property for her refusal to surrender government vehicle to the General Services Office; grave misconduct for her refusal to consider as approved the Executive Budget Calendar Year 2008 despite majority votes of the Council members; election offense; mandamus and injunction; and another mandamus for her refusal to release the salaries and benefits of ABC President Robin Nepomuceno and to say payroll.
The City Information Office said Cabigting had been resorting to mudslinging to cover up the many improprieties she herself has committed in her capacity as a public official.”
