By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
THE “SINUPLADA” issue at the Local Civil Registry (LCR) in Bacolod City turned out to be a “comedy of errors”. The ending seemed to be beyond funny.
A defective microphone was pointed out as the “culprit” behind the “suplada” brouhaha that allegedly caused misinterpretation between the job order (JO) worker assigned at Window 3 of the LCR and the complainant.
The said duff microphone is part of the public address system being used at the LCR in calling out names of waiting clients requesting for birth, marriage and death certificates.
Here’s a run-through of this “sinuplada” issue.
It started on Sunday, Nov. 5 with “Isugid Mo Kay Mayor” program of Mayor Albee Benitez aired via FMR FM Radio in Bacolod City.
A complainant told the mayor that she was a bit dismayed by the distasteful actuation of a lady worker at Window 3 of the LCR when she was processing for the death certificate of a relative.
An instant decision was made. The girl would be relieved from her post. Of course, this was immediately reported the media thru various news platforms.
On Monday, Nov. 6, the media did a follow-up. Alas, the mayor and LCR chief, Atty. Hermilo Pauyon, can’t ascertain who that girl employee was.
Then, it emerged that there were two girl job order employees assigned at Window 3.
When summoned, none from these girls admitted to have acted “sinuplada” to the complainant.
This left the media so amused.
To be sure, the mayor ordered a review of the CCTV (close circuit television) camera footages within the LCR to identify the “suplada”.
‘TWISTS’
The following day, Tuesday, Nov. 7, there was a twist on the matter.
Not a girl but a member of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) community was said to be the “suplada/suplado” JO.
Getting funnier?
Meanwhile, the media is still waiting for the outcome of the CCTV review.
On Facebook, several lawyers shared legal insights on the comical situation.
One said the best thing that the mayor should have done was to call (again) the complainant and the suspected JO workers and let them face each other in front of the him.
Then, let the complainant identify the “suplada/suplado”, the lawyer added.
Another suggested: “Ka-simple. Ask the complainant to identify under oath kun sin-o ang gina-reklamo n’ya.”
Well, nothing happened.
Then here comes another twist – the defective microphone.
It was said that LCR workers assigned at different windows needed to “shout” just to be heard by their clients.
Thus, the complainant probably misinterpreted the gesture and the loud voice of the one assigned at Window 3.
The final solution: buy new and quality microphones. And the 39 LCR workers – regular, casuals, JOs – must undergo retraining, especially in dealing with the customers.
‘ISUGID’ BUT…
Actually, the “Isugid Mo Kay Mayor” program is useful. It is a potent avenue for Bacolodnons to report directly to the mayor via on air.
Mayor Albee being the host, however, must not make instant conclusive decisions on any complaint presented to him.
The program must have a pool of verifiers to do the leg work – checking the veracity of complaints.
Then, another set of people must formulate recommendations to be submitted to the mayor for press release or press conference consumption.
Checking the veracity of complaints is a critical element.
It is sad to note that Mayor Albee wasn’t coached by his “political generals” on what to do. The “suplada” brouhaha could have been avoided./PN
