SC Backs Celso Paler

MANILA – The Supreme Court has exonerated Celso Paler who was terminated by the Commission on Appointments in 2003 for allegedly being Absent Without Leave from his post as Supervising Legislative Staff Officer II and Committee Secretary of the powerful Commission on Appointments.

In its En-banc decision dated March 3, 2010 the high court over ruled the decision of the Court of Appeals dated December 20, 2005.

The Supreme Court in overturning the lower court’s decision backed the Civil service Commission’s interpretation of its rules pertaining to requests for Leaves of Absence. The CSC rules clearly states that applications for such leaves must be acted upon within five days of its filing - otherwise it shall be deemed to have been approved.

The high court argued that in Paler’s case his application had not been acted upon within this time frame.

The case stemmed from Paler’s request for a 73 working day leave of absence in 2003 to go to the United States for health reasons.
In a telephone interview with the Southern Leyte Times Paler said he was happy with the Supreme Court decision, but was confident throughout, that he would be exonerated.

The Supreme Court’s landmark decision will enable Paler to receive his unpaid salaries and other benefits amounting to over 2 million pesos. Celso Paler who is a Maasinhon but now living with his wife Pacita and children in the United States told the Southern Leyte Times that his termination was plain political harrassment.(By ANTONIO M. REYES)

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