“In our age there is no such thing as ‘keeping out of politics.’ All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia.” –George Orwell
No matter how the Iloilo City Legal Office frames the “electioneering” case filed against three City Hall officials—Danny Tan, Vincent de la Cruz, and Eireen Manikan—on alleged violations of RA 9006 (Fair Elections Act), RA 2260 (Civil Service Act of 1959), and RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees), city residents will continue to believe a political vendetta motivated the situation.
Ilonggos weren’t born yesterday and will not immediately believe casual employees Dennis Biñas, Julia Bitonga, Jena Jose, and Donephine Domingo weren’t coaxed, coached, and guided by individuals serving Mayor Jerry P. Treñas to pursue those who sided with his predecessor, former Mayor Jose Espinosa III—only fools would agree the case was filed without assistance or influence from higher-ups.
City residents believe the plaintiffs were dispatched by City Administrator Melchor Tan and briefed by City Legal Officer Edgardo Gill the former was in charge of hiring and appointing casual employees, while the latter has been very vocal and sharply familiar with the case.
The three were singled out last February after they were accused of attempting to compel the said casual employees to back Espinosa in last May’s midterm elections. They characterized their actions as a “threat,” claiming, “Our employment [was] at the stake if we [did] not follow his instruction.”
They added, “We were likewise directed to recruit at least 10 persons to attend ‘Pag-ulikid” (Espinosa’s “Pag-ulikid sang Syudad” community outreach program was said to his the former mayor’s scheme to stay in office).
Since it appears City Hall is behind these legal moves against these alleged Espinosa supporters, city residents may view this internal pandemonium as “obvious political persecution.”
Given Tan, de la Cruz, and Manikan rooted for Espinosa, their “offense” is understandable since they were part of a system that demands adherence to the status quo—less about personality and more on jurisdiction and stability.
In reality, most government workers develop good working relationships with the incumbent. Such a relationship is mutual and necessary as top officials are tasked with treating their employees as family. The relationship they develop shouldn’t be considered as a crime because it was made in the name public service and not because they may hate the new person in charge.
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Alex P. Vidal, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo./WDJ