MAJORITY bloc of the Misamis Oriental Provincial Board is insisting that "ghost employees" could not exist in the capitol's legislative body due to the rigorous requirements and processes would-be applicants have to undergo before being hired.
In a two-page statement, majority members said the allegation that ghost workers exist in the Provincial Board is "certainly malicious, misplaced and disparages the integrity of the board members and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) as an institution."
The majority bloc "categorically states that there can be no ghost employees in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan because of the tedious government processes and stringent requirements prospective employees had to undergo and submit which are being implemented by appropriate government agencies, before being engaged by the provincial government of Misamis Oriental."
They said prospective employees were made to comply and personally submit documents such as birth certificate, among others, to verify and double-checked their identities before they were appointed.
The majority also said these employees, including those detailed to each of the Provincial Board member, are tasked to do community relations work and other assignments in the different towns and villages around the province.
Also, these employees need to be physically present to sign vouchers and payrolls upon getting their salaries from the provincial treasurer's office.
"Understandably, the province is big and this is the way to make public services and official presence felt in the grassroots by ordinary people. Their work assignments and accomplishments are also regularly monitored," the statement reads.
The statement is in response to the accusation of unnamed personalities which was raised by minority member Frederick Khu through a privilege speech last Monday.
Khu brought to the plenary the information he obtained that ghost workers exist which he said calls for an investigation for transparency and to protect the integrity of the board.
Khu's proposal to initiate a probe did not sit well with some of his colleagues.
The majority bloc said Khu did not identify names nor provide evidence during his privilege speech.
"As a matter of fact, his privilege speech consists only of his bare allegation that there are 'ghost employees' in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan which he based on hearsay and not on his personal knowledge," the majority bloc said.
"We urge those imputing malice in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to present evidence and not rely on hearsay and gossip. Our people need and deserve to know only information based on facts and evidence," they added.
