The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has filed an administrative case against an undersecretary of the DENR for the alleged deliberate reorganization of employees, even though DENR Acting Secretary Eleazar Quinto had reshuffled the personnel a day earlier.

A six-page complaint dated January 25 was filed by DENR officer-in-charge Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs Agustin Javellana before the Office of Ombudsman against an undersecretary for usurpation of authority and official function, grave misconduct, insubordination and conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the service.

The complaint stemmed from the issuance of special order (SO) number 44 dated Jan. 10 that was signed by the undersecretary for the reorganization of the Department’s personnel, when Quinto has already issued SOs dated January 7 and 8 for the same purpose.

It seeks the penalizing of the undersecretary for issuing an SO that reshuffled the personnel of the Department, in direct contest to the SOs issued by Quinto.

Quinto was appointed acting secretary of the DENR earlier this month after former DENR chief Jose Atienza Jr. resigned to concentrate on his mayoralty bid.

Meanwhile, the undersecretary was the senior undersecretary of the DENR until late last year when he was directed by Atienza as Undersecretary for Field Operations. On the other hand, Quinto, who was Undersecretary for Field Operations, was appointed Senior Undersecretary.

Last January 7 and 8, Quinto issued a series of directives designating new assignments for the Department’s senior and field officials.

In the said SO, Quinto also delegated himself as concurrent Undersecretary for Field Operations, while the undersecretary was on a floating status.