ILOILO City – The chiefs of three city government task forces – anti-smoking, boardinghouse and illegal structures – have been removed from their posts.
Iñigo Garingalao is no longer the executive director of the Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force.
Ben Palma is out of the Boardinghouse Commission.
Roberto Dumanil is not heading the Task Force on Anti-Squatting and Illegal Structures anymore.
Mayor Jerry Treñas said he is reviewing the performance of the three task forces and would like his own trusted men to lead them.
“Mapili man ta sang mga tawo nga masaligan,” he said.
Garingalao had been heading the Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force these past nine years beginning with the administration of then Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog in 2010.
A regular city government employee holding the plantilla position of Community Affairs Officer III, he had been reassigned to the office of Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo.
Palma, while no longer with the Boardinghouse Commission, remains the chief of another city government body, the Task Force on Internet Online Services, Gaming Centers, Anti-Piracy, and Pornography.
“Iban nagareklamo nga daw pugoso gid kuno sang pagdala sang ila function. I will look into this,” said Treñas. “As mayor, I am responsible for everyone.”
Garingalao said City Administrator Melchor Tan advised him verbally to vacate his post “with the reason nga tagaan leeway ang aton mayor kon sin-o i-consider ‘ya nga ibutang.”
The contracts of 25 job hires under the anti-smoking task force were also not renewed.
“I respect the mayor’s decision,” said Garingalao.
He won’t speculate on rumors that his political leanings may have cost him his task force post.
“I don’t know much about that. Totoy ako sa pulitika. Tungod permanent employee ako, nagahalong ako,” said Garingalao.
As to the alleged complaints against the anti-smoking task force, Garingalao said, “Kon law enforcer ka, susceptible ka sa reklamo.”
This task force’s duty was to enforce the city ordinance that prohibited smoking in public places and conveyances./PN
Nga amo ni nga practice ang mga gina practice sang mga pulitiko sa Pilipinas nga kong sino mayor ilisan ang mga head. Indi pwede nga continue lang ina kag e guide lang maayo. Amo ni nga practice daw ginago sa akon pagtan aw. Naga pakilala nga ang waay salig kong maayo man lang performance nga a pa ilisan.