Dave Achondo I’M quite amused over the bickerings in the city council, and the recent revelations of Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin Uy about Councilor Lordan Suan’s list of “job orders”--his kin and even his girlfriend’s relative was included in it. What really hit me was when Suan spilled the beans and said that other councilors are doing it too. LOL. Here’s what the Civil Service Commission (CSC) has to say about nepotism: “Elective and appointive officials are to observe civil service rules on appointments, particularly those that prohibit nepotism. “Book V, Title I(A), Chapter 8, Section 59 of Executive Order No. 292, also known as the Administrative Code of 1987, prohibits nepotic appointments or those made in favor of a relative of the appointing or recommending authority, or of the chief of bureau or office, or of the persons exercising immediate supervision over the appointee. “Under Section 79 of the Local Government Code of 1991, the prohibition extends to the appointing or recommending authority’s relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, such as first cousin or first cousin-in-law (4th degree).” The CSC said nepotism is a form of corruption or abuse of authority that violates Article IX(B), Section 2(2) of the 1987 Constitution which states. It has warned that nepotism is classified as a grave administrative offense punishable by dismissal from the service. Suan’s defense was that none of them became “job orders” because his request was not approved by Uy. Therefore, according to him, he did not violate the rule against nepotism. After Suan stated that others were also doing it, three other councilors came forward and explained why they have at least one relative each as “job order”staff member. The three councilors are Enrico Salcedo, Teodulfo Lao Jr., and George Goking. Salcedo and Lao said they have one sibling each in their staff while Goking disclosed that he took his daughter in and entrusted her with responsibilities in his office. Nepotism? From where I am sitting, it looks like it is nepotism based on the definition. However, councilors handle sensitive matters and documents that they opt to have trustworthy relatives or the most trustworthy person to handle delicate matters. The three said they needed at least one staff member each who they could really trust. The reason has some merit to it because a relative or someone very close to you would be your likely choice if you’re looking for someone who can be trusted with sensitive tasks or information. If I were in their shoes, I’d probably be taking in someone like my best friend from childhood. It seems many of our officials, elected, appointed or whatsoever, are into nepotism. You see government offices manned by people who are relatives of the powerful and the appointing authorities. It doesn’t mean you are in a position of power that you can do whatever you like. We, ordinary citizens, try our best to follow the laws, and we need people in power to guide and set the example. But all they are showing us is that the laws can be bent by the powerful, and we, the weak, are at their mercy