A POLITICAL–bureaucratic snafu has developed at Dagupan City hall after some employees of the city government, tagged as ‘midnight’ appointees of the past city administration, did not receive their salaries last July 15.

The city mayor’s office was stormed by calls and personal inquiries from affected employees asking when their salaries will be released.

City Legal Officer George Mejia confirmed that Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. is still reviewing the appointments of these people as the were reportedly appointed during the last few days in office of his predecessor, former Mayor Benjamin Lim.

Mejia said that those who did not receive their salaries on the 15th day of the month were employees given permanent appointments by the former mayor just after the election.

He said these employees, assigned to various departments, were reporting for work every day at city hall but the question is, they got their permanent appointment only a few days before Lim let his post.

Mejia said those whose appointments were extended by Lim before the election were not affected and given their respective salaries.

As gleaned from the statement of the city legal officer, there were two sets of appointees made by Lim, one set of which was extended permanent appointments before the campaign period started, and another set after the lifting of the election ban.

All the appointees were either emergency workers or consultants of the past city administration.

It was learned that because of the mass appointments made by the former mayor the new city administration was left with virtually no employee to appoint anymore, except to positions of those holding co-terminus positions who went out, by operation of law, with Lim.