Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has dropped Negros Occidental Provincial Planning and Development Office head Ma. Lina Sanogal from the roster of provincial government employees.
She has been terminated for being absent without leave, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz.
Lacson, in a letter to Sanogal dated May 19, said it has come to his attention that she has not reported for work since March 18 without an approved leave of absence and with no official communication on her whereabouts despite numerous attempts to contact her.
Dropping from the roll is non-disciplinary in nature and is appealable before the Civil Service Commission (CSC) within 15 days from receipt of notice, he said.
Diaz said an agreement had been reached for the transfer of Sanogal, while she was processing her retirement papers, to the governor’s office. They had hoped there could have been a more peaceful solution than for her to be terminated for being AWOL, Diaz said.
Sanogal said her termination is moot and academic since she had already filed a complaint against Lacson before the CSC for constructive dismissal.
She was constructively dismissed when she was demoted from her responsibilities as a technical manager and transferred to the governor’s office to work on administrative concerns, Sanogal said.
She was also made to report to Diaz who is at the same level as her, their being both department heads, instead of to the governor, she added.
Sanogal has also filed a complaint against Diaz and Lacson before the Commission on Elections for violation of the Election Code and a third case before the Office of the Ombudsman.
In her complaint before the Ombudsman, she charged Lacson and Diaz for oppression and grave abuse of authority.
Dropping her from the rolls will add to the evidence that she is being oppressed, Sanogal added.*