By DANNY O. SAGUN

“ANGGAPOMET ni nanpasnokan kon empleyado. Angapomet ni inekal ko dia lapud pulitika.”

Thus did Gov. Amado Espino answer a question from Orly N of Aksyon Radyo about perceptions that he is masibeg, mapasnok and vindictive. Three times during that radio interview he stressed he had not berated any employee.

“I don’t know why they are saying that,” he wondered, adding he would not admit any such perceptions.

He admitted though that he went hard on the department heads as he wanted them to work as he does. “If they are the boss (of the departments), they should be there because I’m here working also’” he stressed.

Disciplinarian? Sort of, but he only wanted an efficient dedicated workforce, he said. As to wearing of office uniforms, he said it is a must because Capitol employees have their clothing allowance.

We personally saw how the governor reacted negatively to the manner some department heads presented their respective programs, accomplishments, etc. during the first two weeks of his administration. Literally he pounced on those whom he noted to be speaking out of tune, those who did not seem to know their functions. One lady head cried a river.

Curiously, those heads of offices, or the assistants perceived to be loyal or close to his predecessor, were made to compose a study group. In three months the affected personnel were supposed to come out with the results of their study. By October however, they were still doing that special assignment. While out of their respective turfs, the assistants or somebody else brought in by the governor serves as OICs.

We were informed that the group disbanded after finishing its task at the end of the year. Last month, they were supposed to return to their positions only to be recalled later to do another special assignment. Naelew lara agi pati saramay OIC tan empleado.

This we learned when we tried to invite some heads of offices to be our guest at the weekly Pantongtongan Tayo radio program of the Philippine Information Agency over DZMQ. The persons who received the communication did not know whom to forward the letter, either to the head or the OIC.

The governor could not just fire them under pain of violating civil service rules so he devised other ways for them to get out of their shells. To some observers Spines’ move was another way of saying ‘I don’t like your face.’ In time, those people may just give up and say they’re leaving. Odino ipabangar da met la, alagaren dalay pansalat na panao