Why use Facebook to convict?

Reynaldo Santos Jr

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Employees of the Philippine Information Agency cry foul over the agency's 'Facebook exposé'

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Information Agency Employees Association is protesting the agency’s decision to expose the dismissal of a manager who went on AWOL only to be seen on Facebook vacationing in Boracay.

In an open letter sent to media, PIA Employees Association president Gary Penuliar said that although the agency on June 29 ordered the dismssal of Maynardo Valdez, the latter has yet to receive a copy of the order.

“The publication of said articles are premature and injurious to the person of Mr. Valdez, having been convicted of an offense which has not yet attained finality and is still subject to appeal,” Penuliar said.

On Wednesday, July 4, the PIA sent an article to news organizations about the dismissal of Valdez as a result of his Facebook photos.

The PIA said that Valdez, manager of the PIA Nueva Ecija Information Center, was ordered dismissed from service after being found liable for dishonesty, gross neglect of duty and grave misconduct. PIA records showed that Valdez closed the Nueva Ecija Information Center for 4 days without authority as he went on absence without leave to attend a high school reunion in Boracay. While in Boracay, Valdez ignored text messages and calls of his superiors but was prompt in sharing his Boracay pictures on his Facebook account, according to the PIA.

Penuliar said that by announcing Valdez’s dismissal, the PIA was being insensitive “to the cause and feeling of the employees.” The PIA story, which was carried both by local and foreign news organizations, was “detrimental to the well-being of the accused and may cause him irreparable damage psychologically, financially, socially and professionally,” he added.

Even if Valdez was found guilty of the offenses levelled against him, Penuliar said that “he still deserves to be accorded respect and dignity due a human being and not subject him to ridicule and accusation.” He added: “We demand that the management cease from dishonoring employees accused or found guilty of any case by any form of publication as it will gravely diminish their second chance at life.”

But there’s more.

A copy of the decision against Valdez, signed by PIA Director-General Jose A. Fabia, showed that Valdez was already found guilty in two separate administrative cases filed against him in 2011.




In one case, Valdez was charged with gross neglect of duty for his failure to submit a list of local issues and concerns prior to a presidential visit in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.

“As respondent did not submit the issues and concerns of Nueva Ecija when the President visited Fort Magsaysay in April 2011, he committed a blatant breach of his duty,” the order noted.

In another count of gross neglect of duty, Valdez was again administratively charged after he only wrote one story in 35 days. He was required to submit at least two articles and 4 situation reports daily, the PIA said. He also failed to submit weekly reports, it added.

“When respondent did not meet his daily minimum output of news, he deprived the public of knowing the good news in Nueva Ecija and at the same time deprived the people of Nueva Ecija of a forum to showcase the good news in their locality,” the PIA decision said.

Valdez also did not submit a pre-survey result on the inaugural State of the Nation Address of President Benigno S. Aquino III, according to the PIA. – Rappler.com



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