Ambitious OIC

A department secretary with three powerful bureaus under his command may have been taken for a ride, and by one of his own bureau men, Nosy Tarsee has figured.

It began well enough. The secretary filed graft charges against the former chief of the bureau. He then needed someone to mind the shop so he named an officer-in-charge from Davao, a man said to be a Duterte supporter. But the secretary stood by his choice.

He may not have known though what came with it.

The Civil Service Commission (csC) is now looking into the OIC. The first question is whether he is even eligible for the post. The second is how his own son got into the bureau through a lateral promotion and landed in its National Capital Region office.

Bureau insiders told Nosy Tarsee the list goes on.

The OIC has kept four ranking officials, all said to be close to him, in their posts though each is months away from retirement. Bureau policy says retiring officials must be moved to light duties as their date nears. Insiders say the policy has been set aside.

Then there are the uniforms. Operatives get P20,000 in clothing allowance every three years. New recruits, though, were reportedly told to take a loan from the bureau cooperative and buy their uniforms through it.

The OIC heads that cooperative. He said it was because the co-op earns from it. What few know, the insiders say, is that he also has an interest in the garment business. Draw your own line from the loan to the linens.

Now the ambition. The OIC wants to be national chief of the bureau, and sources say he is moving heaven and earth to get there. He has about six months in the service and retires early next year. The CSC is also asking about his lack of proper career service eligibility and his lack of training during his time with the bureau.

Six months in. Out the door next year. And eyeing the top chair.

Fair is fair. These are claims by insiders and from a pending inquiry, not findings, and nothing has been proven.

But the secretary might ask himself two simple questions. Who recommended this man? And who gains if he stays?