BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson issued an order dropping Capitol department head Ma. Lina Sanogal from the roll of employees of the provincial government of Negros Occidental, for having been absent and not reporting for work since March 18.
In his issued executive order No. 22-23, series of 2022, Lacson said that the prolonged unauthorized absences of Ma. Lina Sanogal, a department head of the provincial government, hampered the operations of the provincial government and proved to be prejudicial to public service.
He said that Sanogal has not submitted her Daily Time Record for the month of March onwards, as per certification dated May 19 this year issued by Zara Jane Chan, Officer-in-Charge of the Provincial Planning and Development Office Administrative Division.
Citing a memorandum circular issued by the Civil Service Commission, Lacson said “an official or employee who is continuously absent without official leave (AWOL) for at least thirty (30) working days shall be separated from the service, or dropped from the rolls, without prior notice.”
Sanogal was reassigned to the Office of the Governor on March 15 this year, and her position as Provincial Planning and Development Office head was temporarily taken over by Ana Marie Lucasan, in lieu of her retirement from the government service.
On April 5, she filed a complaint against Lacson and Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz for alleged violation of the Omnibus Election Code. A separate complaint was also filed against Lacson before the Civil Service Commission.
In her complaint, Sanogal claimed that on March 15, 2022 which is within the election period, Lacson and Diaz caused the issuance of Office Order no. 03-15-0104 series of 2022, reassigning her to the Office of the Governor to attend to special administrative concerns effective immediately.
Lacson however justified the transfer of Sanogal, stressing that it was approved by the Comelec.
Sanogal said marking her as AWOL was already moot and academic since she already filed a case of constructive dismissal before the CSC.
On the other hand, Sanogal also filed complaints against Lacson and Diaz for alleged oppression and grave abuse of authority before the Ombudsman.*
