The controversy surrounding Camarines Sur Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Rodolfo Matusalem further blew up when the Civil Service Commission voided the renewal of his appointment on March 13 after CSC issued a temporary renewal only two weeks earlier on March 1, 2007.
In the latest CSC decision, Atty. Anicia Marasigan de Lima, CSC assistant commissioner, also reprimanded DENR Region 5 Human Resources Management Officer Honorina N. Loria for not following the publication requirement before filling up the position occupied by Matusalem.
The CSC approved on March 1, 2007 the temporary renewal of Matusalem’s appointment based on the certification issued by Loria that there was no qualified eligible who had expressed willingness to be appointed to the position.
The CSC, however, found out that the publication on March 30, 2006 of the position of PENRO occupied by Matusalem came eight days after the issuance of the appointment on March 22, 2006.
The CSC said this is a violation of the publication requirement under R.A. 7041 which mandates that vacant positions in national government offices should be published at least 10 days before appointment is made.
Matusalem has long been in the center of controversy at the PENRO office here because he has no valid appointment since May 11, 2005 yet he continues to discharge his function and to collect his salaries and allowances and all other benefits accruing to a PENRO.
No less than Camarines Sur Provincial Prosecutor Agapito Rosales had warned that there could be legal complications because he has been signing land titles when he has no authority to do so in the absence of a valid appointment.
Rosales also warned that Matusalem could be liable for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for collecting his salaries still even after having been disallowed by the Commission on Audit and after CSC did not renew his appointment.
DENR employees here in Camarines Sur have also asked that Matusalem be relieved because of his arrogant behavior, drinking during office hours and for harassing employees.
However, DENR Region 5 officials have continued to pamper Matusalem despite widespread complaints against him giving rise to the possibility that they would also be charged with Matusalem, sources said.
