Security bars entry of Atty. Dx Lapid
CEBU CITY (April 15, 2024) – The beleaguered acting general manager (GM) of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District has urged his suspended colleagues to open the water district’s books of account for investigation.
Lawyer John DX Lapid following an early morning fiasco when suspended GM Edgar Donoso imposed a lockdown at the MCWD headquarters by virtue of a resolution that the suspended directors of the water utility purportedly issued.
“Nganong dili man gyud tugtan nga mag-imbestigar ninyo ang LWUA sulod sa 90 days? Mubo ra kaayo na nga panahon. Unsa man gyu’y naa sa MCWD?” he told reporters while outside the ramp entrance of the MCWD headquarters.
Lawyer Jose Moises “Joy” Francisco Salonga, the administrator of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), described the act of the suspended MCWD officials as “a sad day for Cebu.” (Read separate story)
Lapid said he was supposed to issue orders to MCWD divisions to open and bare their records for the LWUA-appointed interim board of directors (iBOD) to start its investigation.
But he added security guards barred his entry when he arrived at building’s ramp along Lapulapu St.
Donoso’s order dated today was aimed to “ensure unhampered public service and protect the well-being and safety of its employees against any form of intimidation and harassment.”
He also prohibited entry to LWUA officials, including the iBOD members.
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Suspended MCWD board chairman Jose Daluz III and members Miguelito Pato and Judelyn Mae Seno reportedly adopted the resolution during a special meeting on April 12.
Lapid said he immediately reported the incident to LWUA administrator who, he said, told him to “hold the line.”
“I would encourage Atty. Dx to stand firm,” Salonga also said when interviewed this morning over DySS Super Radyo.
Illegal
Lapid said he was surprised to learn that Daluz and Donoso accused him of grave misconduct, even “betrayal” of MCWD for siding with LWUA, and for supposedly usurping the power of the general manager.
“On what grounds nga nahimo kong traydor sa akoang gitrabahoan? I am just following an order of a national agency regulating a water district,” Lapid said.
“I was even accused of usurping the power of the general manager. There is a resolution appointing me, where is the usurpation of power? Maybe they need to resolve who has the jurisdiction,” he added.
Lapid described the move to block his entry into MCWD premises as illegal as he remains a high-ranking employee of the water district.
“I am an employee of MCWD, I am not (with a ) terminated (employment status). Akong position as Customer Care division manager, existing na. Gibabagan ko niya bisan og wala ko’y sala nga gibuhat,” he argued.
“This is illegal, clearly. I have my rights as an employee to be inside, mo-duty ko. Niabot ko’g 5:59, ako’ng duty pwede ko mo-in og 7 up to 9 (am), nisayo ko’g ari pero wala ko nila pasudla. Mao ni’y klarong daog-daog!” he added.
Needs fixing
Lapid acknowledged the situation at MCWD has become “problematic” because, he added, the suspended BOD failed to address the increasing rate of non-revenue water (NRW) that the water district incurred.
NRW refers to the water produced and lost before reaching consumers. It can occur due to leaks and damaged pipes, along with free water MCWD provides for firefighting purposes.
“Dako gyud ni nga problema sa water district kay tubig na nga wala namo mabaligya, nga supposed to be na-convert na unta ni into serbisyo sa katawhan,” he said.
| PPRMN / jkv
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