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I’m at a loss as to what to think about the recent dismissals of Government officials, whether or not it is warranted, and why it seems as though that all of these dismissals are occurring in a large number at the same time. By looking at each case it seems to be clear that a suspension is merited.

GMA News reports the following dismissals as well as the reasons for each of the dismissals.

• Dismissal from the service of Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao “Peewee” Trinidad, Vice Mayor Antonio Calixto and Councilors Richard Advincula, Lexter Ibay, Jose Antonio Roxas, Noel Bayona, Arnel Regino Arceo, Editha Vergel de Dios, Marie Irish Pineda, and Greg Paolo Alcera for grave misconduct after the Ombudsman had found them administratively liable for circumventing the laws on public bidding in the awarding of service contracts for garbage collection and disposal in the city

• Dismissal of Mayor Antonio Esquivel of Jaen, Nueva Ecija who was administratively held liable and criminally charged with violating the rules of the Civil Service Commission (CSC)

• Preventive suspension of Batangas Gov. Armando Sanchez for a period not exceeding six months without pay for irregularities in the procurement of contract of services for a provincial tax computerization project

• Suspension for six months of Mayor Joel Panaligan of Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro for simple misconduct in connection with an administrative complaint accusing him of falsifying the payroll of casual employees of the Sangguniang Bayan

• Preventive suspension of Mayor Ricardo Evangelista of Aguilar, Pangasinan, which would not exceed a period of four months, pending the investigation of his case involving his alleged unauthorized use of the Special Education Fund for his municipality

• Suspension of six months and one day of Mayor Joniper Villegas of Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental after being held liable for the illegal dismissal of municipal employees

• Suspension for six months of Mayor Doloreich Dumaluan of Panglao, Bohol for simple misconduct in connection with charges of illegally purchasing gasoline using public funds for personal purposes

• Suspension for one month of Municipal Accountant Elvira Clenuar of Panglao, Bohol in connection with charges filed against Dumaluan; and

• Dismissal of Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Cecilia Capadosa in connection with the charges filed against Tupas

What about the claims of the oppositions that this is politically motivated, and the counter-claim by DILG secretary in saying that the dismissals are non-partisan and are occurring on both sides of the political field?

But, then again, I’ve seen these cases in all sectors of government, and from where I come from, these occurrences of graft and corruption are well known. My point, if I have one, is that If you should suspend these individuals, let us hope that these dismissals are occurring with all public officials that are guilty of graft and corruption, and that this isn’t the case of “SELECTIVE DISMISSALS”…. With the track record of this administration, I’m still skeptical.

I can’t say for certain that this is a mass attempt to clear more ground for the current administration and it’s run in this year’s elections, but if these individuals have acted in a manner that is unbecoming of a public official, then let the dismissals continue.

My one question, and I hope someone knows about this is.. Can the officials still be eligible to run in the coming elections? And now that I think about it, I think they can, since no decision has been rendered…. How’s that for a quick question and answer portion? But, seriously, I’m still pondering the implications of it all, and if administration officials were also dismissed, were these officials even key figures in the coming elections?

Or is the number of dismissals a normal occurring phenomenon that just seems to be high, due to the fact of media coverage?

Oh my, I think I may have left you guys with more questions than answers.