COA orders Misamis Occidental town to pay 3 reinstated officials’ back wages 

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Dismissed for graft, three officials in Plaridel town refuse to go quietly, challenging the ombudsman's decision. They won – the ruling was set aside two years later.

MANILA, Philippines – Once dismissed for graft, three town officials in Misamis Occidental officials staged a dramatic return – this time being awarded with over P5 million in back pay from their local government.

The Commission on Audit (COA) has compelled the town government of Plaridel to shell out P5.2 million in back wages and unpaid benefits. 

The COA en banc order came following a hard-fought legal battle by Plaridel town agricultural technologist Melissa Sinconiegue, town government accountant Daisy Masalig, and municipal treasurer Maria Uba, who were fired in July 2017. 

The decision to terminate their services came after a ruling by the Office of the Ombudsman that found them guilty of serious dishonesty, grave misconduct, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service in relation to criminal complaints for malversation of public funds.

Stripped of their official functions as of November 2017, the three officials refused to go quietly, challenging the ruling which led to a turnaround on October 17, 2019, when the ombudsman set aside its earlier July 2017 resolution. 

The reversal prompted the Department of the Interior and Local Government in Northern Mindanao to immediately reinstate the officials and order the payment of the wages that had been withheld.

A 10-page decision by the COA en banc laid out the figures in detail: Masalig is entitled to P2.35 million, while Uba was ordered to get paid P1.99 million. Sinconiegue is also entitled to P934,556, covering the period from November 2017 to November 2020.

The COA en banc said dismissed government personnel who are later reinstated are entitled to back wages and other monetary benefits calculated from the time of their dismissal based on a Supreme Court ruling.

 “This is only fair and just because an employee who is reinstated after having been illegally dismissed is considered as not having left his office and should be given the corresponding compensation at the time of his reinstatement,” the COA stated.

The COA, however, flagged the disbursement of more than P354,000 for Uba’s salaries and a mid-year bonus covering January to June 2020, saying it was prematurely given. The COA said a petition for money claims should have been submitted to the COA first before payments are processed. – Rappler.com