Mayor Jerry P. Treñas expressed readiness to face the criminal and administrative complaints filed against him by a City Hall employee.

“Mahulat nalang ko ya. Kon pasabton kita, ti masabat kita,” said Treñas in an interview on Tuesday, Sept. 17.

The complaints were lodged by Joe Mari A. Esteral before the Office of the Ombudsman in Cebu City on Sept. 11.

Esteral accused Treñas and six other city officials of grave coercion, grave misconduct, oppression, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and unfair discrimination due to affiliation.

The other respondents are City Administrator Melchor Tan, City General Services Office head Joren Sartorio, City Legal Officer Edgardo Gil, Iloilo City Civil Registry Asst. Dept Head Cherry Ampig, and Executive Assistants Fernando Jose Rico and Rudiver Junco Sr.

“Given the seriousness of the offense charge charge and the positions they are holding, I humbly appeal to this Office that the matter be immediately investigated and respondents be immediately placed under preventive suspensions pending investigations of my charges to them (sic),” said Esteral.

The complaints stemmed from the reassignment of Esteral from the City Civil Registry Office to the city’s sanitary landfill in Barangay Calajunan, Mandurriao. 

The complainant’s reassignment took effect last Aug. 20.

Esteral said he was ordered to, among others, count the number of dump trucks that unload garbage materials and record the weight of the trucks.

He lamented that these are inconsistent with his mandated duties as Bookbinder II.

“After several days of duty at the sanitary landfill, I realized that as correctly said by Sir Joren Sartorio I was ordered re-assigned not in the name of public service but because of politics or because of the recently concluded election or my affiliation to Mr. Romeo Caesar L. Manikan Jr., my then boss at the City Registry Office (sic),” Esteral said.

Manikan is among those being accused of alleged electioneering for campaigning for former mayor Jose Espinosa III in the May 13, 2019.

According to Esteral, “the uncertainties” have caused him to lose his appetite and suffer sleepless nights. 

He also said that he fears for his life and his family’s safety.

Treñas, meanwhile, denied that he knew Esteral. “Wala pa nak ami ka kitaay kag kaistorya.“

The mayor said the detailing of City Hall personnel undergoes a process.IMT