Five councilors maintained their innocence in the administrative charges filed against them by Leganes Mayor Enrique Rojas.

In an interview over “Kapihan sa Bali” hosted by The News Today executive editor Manuel “Boy” Mejorada, it was learned Leganes Councilors Joseph Allen Españo, Vicente Jaen, Salvador Guillergan, Jr., Adolfo Jaen II and Antonio Unarce were charged for alleged “dereliction of duty,” “abuse of authority” and alleged violations of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees; and RA 3019 or the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Rojas alleged the five did not act on his request for budget appropriations for “20 job hires” and salary modification of an employee in Leganes LGU.

Españo explained the five of them, who composed the SB Committee on Appropriations, acted on the mayor’s request despite the latter’s letter requesting the above modifications was addressed to the Sangguniang Bayan through the vice mayor.

He said denying Rojas’ request was in accordance with the law and in line with the recommendation given by the Civil Service Commission, which they sought for advice.

The five of them agreed they did not act favorably on the request of Rojas for the P663,440 Supplemental Budget No. 2 for 2012, because of the still unresolved problem with regard to the job hires without prior job orders, adding to act favorably “would mean violating the law and applicable rules and regulations.”

Españo explained Rojas could have secured “job orders” for the “20 job hires” first before letting them work and not letting the “job hires” work without proper papers and ask the committee, which he chairs, to appropriate salaries for them.

The five councilors earlier requested the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to dismiss the charges but the body found “probable cause” to hear the cases and pushed through with the preliminary hearing last January 28, 2012.

The charged councilmen, it was learned, are running against opposition party this May 2013 elections.*