Capitol info chief faces CSC charge over Facebook posts

ILOILO CITY — An Iloilo provincial government official faces a charge of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service after the Civil Service Commission Regional Office 6 (CSC-6) flagged his Facebook posts.

The posts targeted former Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and his daughter, incumbent Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu.

The administrative case against Jose Nereo Lujan, head of the Iloilo provincial government’s Public Information and Community Affairs Office, involves alleged violations of Sections 4(b) and 4(c) of Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Section 4(b) requires public officials to perform their duties with professionalism. Section 4(c) requires them to respect the rights of others and refrain from acts contrary to law, good morals, good customs, and public interest.

The proceedings stemmed from an administrative complaint Jerry Treñas filed on May 24, 2024, while he was still mayor of Iloilo City.

In a resolution promulgated on Oct. 13, 2026, CSC-6 found a prima facie case against Lujan after a preliminary investigation.

A formal charge means the commission found enough initial evidence to proceed with an administrative disciplinary case. It is not a finding of guilt.

The resolution cited a series of social media posts allegedly published by Lujan between May 21, 2023, and May 3, 2024, on his personal Facebook account under the name “Nereo Cajilig Lujan.”

The account was publicly accessible and had about 27,000 followers, according to the resolution.

In his complaint, the former mayor alleged that Lujan’s posts were personal attacks designed to publicly malign, humiliate, discredit, and dishonor him and his daughter.

Eight Facebook posts under scrutiny

The formal charge cited eight posts published from 2023 to 2024, several of which addressed the former mayor as “Yor.”

On May 31, 2023, Lujan posted: “Yor, if you want us to respect your ‘traffic rules’, show us that you can also respect the red light. It’s as simple as that!”

On June 11, 2023, he wrote: “Yor, wala ka abi naga respeto sa red light te ang mga PSTMO personnel wla man naga respect sa red light eh!”

On Oct. 31, 2023, commenting on an Iloilo City PSTMO traffic video titled “HOW TO BEAT THE RED LIGHT,” Lujan wrote: “Yor, guina LBM ka? Naga dali ka guid haw? Grabe guid pamusina kag pang wahig sang duha mo ka police escorts haw? Get well soon Yor. We love you.”

On April 9, 2024, he commented “Ay hala! Hihihi” on a political cartoon depicting St. Peter telling a man that neither he nor his child could enter heaven or the “Partido Federal.”

On April 14, 2024, CSC-6 said, Lujan mocked Raisa Treñas’ campaign tagline “TRAIBAHO ILONGGO,” posting “Budlaybudlay kuha pa ba!” and “T, RAI, baho Ilonggo?” He also wrote: “Aside sa tRAlbaho, may isa pa ka word nga may RAI – tRAldor! Hahahaha.”

On April 16, 2024, commenting on Raisa Treñas’ “RAISPA TREÑAS” slogan, he posted “Bisan gutok, sigi dasok!” and “Libre raspa sa City Hall???”

On April 19, 2024, referring to alliances with national political figures, Lujan wrote: “DesperAIDO guid nga makasulod sa grupo iya nga Princesa, that’s why todo guid pasipsip nya kay BBM. Anhon mo na bi kay indi si Liza sa inyo?”

On May 3, 2024, he posted about local heritage: “Ang pagpalangga mo sa aton heritage daw pareho sang Tallano Gold. Fictitious!”

“The […] posts made by Lujan in his Facebook account are personal attacks against Treñas and his daughter, Raisa, which tend to cause dishonor, discredit, and contempt with the clear intent of publicly maligning, discrediting, and humiliating them over social media,” said CSC-6 Director Erna Elizan in the resolution.

Post published during office hours

CSC-6 also cited the timing of Lujan’s social media activity, noting that his May 3, 2024, post went up at 9:17 a.m. on a Friday, during official working hours.

According to the resolution, the posts could create a public perception that government officials and employees are free to use social media to damage other people’s reputations.

CSC-6 said using official work hours for personal online attacks damaged public trust in Lujan’s office, the Provincial Government of Iloilo, and the civil service as a whole.

“Indubitably, Lujan’s act of publicly making the said posts tarnished the image and integrity of his public office, in particular, and the government as a whole,” Elizan added.

Under the Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service is a grave offense. It carries a penalty of suspension of six months and one day to one year for a first offense, and dismissal from the service for a second offense.

Lujan was directed to submit an answer under oath, along with his sworn testimony and those of his witnesses, within 10 days of receiving the formal charge.

He was also advised of his right to counsel and required to say whether he wants a formal administrative investigation.

CSC-6 barred dilatory pleadings, saying it would not entertain requests for clarification, bills of particulars, motions to dismiss, motions to quash, motions for reconsideration, or motions for extension of time.

Failure to file an answer within the 10-day period will be considered a waiver, and the case will be decided based on existing records, CSC-6 said.