MISAMIS Oriental Vice Gov. Jeremy Jonahmar Pelaez on Wednesday expressed relief after a local court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against a memorandum from Gov. Juliette Uy that required all provincial employees to claim their salaries in person.
The Regional Trial Court, 10th Judicial Region, Branch 18, issued the 20-day TRO on Tuesday, August 20, against Memorandum Order GJTU No. 0356-2025. Uy’s order had mandated that all employees, including staff from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, personally claim their salaries over the counter at Unity Hall.
Pelaez called the TRO a victory, stating in a message to his colleagues, “Mga kauban sa atong Sanggunian, this TRO is not just an ordinary order — it is a clear recognition that the said memorandum, if implemented, would cause irreparable injury to our employees and undermine the very principles of separation of powers and fiscal autonomy enshrined in the Local Government Code and upheld by our Constitution.”
He said the directive would have forced employees from distant municipalities to spend extra time, money, and effort to receive their salaries, which he said goes against established Commission on Audit and Department of Budget and Management guidelines that recommend secure ATM systems for transparency and efficiency.
“Ang korte mismo nakakita nga ang pagpugos niini nga scheme dili lamang burdensome, pero questionable sa legal ug moral nga basehanan. That is why, for the next 20 days, the governor and the provincial treasurer are prohibited from enforcing this memorandum,” Pelaez added.
Pelaez said the TRO is a victory for the principle of checks and balances, affirming that the legislative body cannot be subjected to executive overreach, particularly regarding the welfare of its employees.
A hearing is scheduled for September 5, to determine if a preliminary injunction will be issued to permanently restrain the order.
“We must stand firm, for what is at stake is not only the convenience of our employees but also the autonomy and dignity of this legislative body,” the vice governor said.
