‘TOTAL OVERHAUL’ Mayor justifies sacking of dep’t heads

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

Mayor Jerry Treñas justified the continuous sacking of the chiefs of various task forces and departments at the Iloilo City Hall.

Treñas emphasized that he must work with people he is comfortable with to ensure the smooth delivery of his programs.

“This is a new administration. You have to understand, I will have to work with people I can work with so that we will ensure that the programs will proceed smoothly,” he said in a press conference on Thursday.

Right after he assumed office, Treñas sacked the following officials:

• Iñigo Garingalao, the long-time chief of the Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force (ICAST);
• Roberto Dumanil, head of Task Force Anti-Squatting and Illegal Structures (ASIS); and
• Boarding House Commission (BHC) head Ben Palma were all removed from their posts.

Other department heads were forced to file their respective leaves, according to sources.

During the press conference, Treñas named the officials that he will be designating to head the departments and task forces in the City Hall.

For the Boarding House Commission, he said that he will tap Ted Tingson as the new head while Task Force ASIS will be headed by Love Joy Hosenilla.

“Sa Task Force ASIS, may ara na ko someone in mind nga nagbulig man sa aton sang una didto sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) si Love Joy Hosenilla. He had an experience sa ubra nga amo na. I am making arrangements nga makadto na di siya sa aton para mabutang ko naman siya sa ASIS,” he said.

The former barangay captain of Railway in La Paz district, Nestor Canong, will head the Task Force on Moral and Values Formation while the Iloilo Sports and Development Office will be headed by Rudiver Jungco, former barangay captain of Jereos also in La Paz.

Roy Firmeza returns at the helm of the Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office (ICUPAO).

Meanwhile, Treñas said he is still looking for qualified officials who will head the ICAST, City Engineer’s Office, Task Force on Internet and Gaming Centers, Anti-Piracy and Pornography (IGCAPP) and other departments.

Previously, Treñas said he will be filing charges against department heads who practiced ‘electioneering; in the recently concluded midterm elections.

“May mga affidavits ko ginauyatan but tan-awon ta. Ang aton isa ka fault as FIipinos, we are forgiving. If they allow us to proceed with our programs in the meantime, basi ma-forgive ta man sila,” he said.