Sugar Regulatory Administration employees issued a manifesto of support for the OIC-administrator of the SRA on Thursday, July 14, after Hermenegildo Serafica in a memorandum stated that he still heads the agency.
The SRA Employees Association of the Philippines Inc., in their manifesto, said they fully support Ignacio Santillana as the OIC-administrator based on a SRA joint memorandum issued on July 4, deputy administrator Guillermo Tejida III disclosed.
They do not recognize any other person who continues to claim to be the administrator, the manifesto said.
A joint memorandum issued July 4 designated Ignacio Santillana, SRA deputy administrator, as OIC of the Office of the Administrator in compliance with Memorandum Circular No.1, Series of 2022, issued by the Office of the President.
Memorandum Circular No. 1 declared certain positions in the departments, offices agencies and bureaus of government vacant effective noon of June 30.
Vacancies in the heads of such offices where no replacement has been appointed or designated shall be filled up by the next-in-rank and most senior official as OIC, Memorandum Circular No. 1 said.
The joint memorandum that designated Santillana as OIC in place of Serafica addressed to all SRA employees was signed by SRA deputy administrators Brando Noroña, Tejida and Santillana.
Serafica, in a memorandum issued July 12 to all SRA officials and employees, said his position was not among those covered by Memorandum Circular No 1, Series of 2022.
He remains SRA administrator and Santillana was designated OIC administrator without his knowledge, Serafica said in the memorandum.
Santillana has been functioning as OIC administrator since July 1, Tejida said.
Rep. Emilio Yulo III (Neg. Occ., 5th District) said Serafica is covered by Memorandum Circular No. 1 because he is a presidential appointee.
He should just leave the SRA quietly, Yulo said.
Serafica could not be reached for comment.*