Up to 70 barangay workers in Payatas, Quezon City protested against their alleged illegal termination, following their years of service, some of them more than a decade. According to them, the decision to remove them from their positions did not go through due process.
On Monday, more than 20 employees went to the Payatas barangay hall to express their opposition. They considered the decision as baseless and illegal, and it came as a shock to all those affected.
According to Barangay Kagawad Darwin Cepeda, employees were surprised on January 5, 2026, when they were informed that they were no longer part of the barangay's workforce. “Everyone was shocked, there was no notice at all,” said Cepeda. “It should have gone through the proper process.”
Among those removed were 9 members of the Peacekeeping Board, 32 traffic enforcers, and 29 fire brigade members. One of them, Marites Cacayan, heard that the decision was unilateral and made by Barangay Chairman Rascal Doctor. He mentioned that according to the Local Government Code, barangay workers cannot be dismissed without the council's approval.
On the other hand, Rascal Doctor denied the allegation of lack of due process. He said this was part of the reorganization and reassessment of the employee and had no personal or political motive. “This is to improve management and services in the community,” said Doctor, and strongly denied the spreading derogatory information.
