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CPA denies discrimination charge
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Posted on Mar 07 2000
Commonwealth Ports Authority Executive Director Carlos H. Salas yesterday brushed off allegations that the agency discriminated an accounts clerk of the seaport who filed a civil suit before the U.S. District Court last week.
Mr. Salas said CPA has never discriminated against any of the ports authority’s employees, in reaction to the $1 million discrimination and harassment civil suit lodged by seaport accounts clerk Rudy C. Aguon.
Aside from $1 million representing damages for injury, pain and suffering and emotional distress, Mr. Aguon is demanding payment for medical and incidental expenses, loss of earnings, attorney’s fees and litigation costs.
Mr. Aguon sued several CPA officials, including Mr. Salas and Saipan Port Manager Antonio B. Cabrera, for alleged violation of his employment as well as civil and human rights.
He alleged that the recommended actions issued by CPA officials against him — termination or demotion, transfer and salary reduction — were in retaliation to his previous complaint filed before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Mr. Aguon, claiming that he has been a model employee during the past five years of his employment with CPA, had never received memos of reprimand and disciplinary threats prior to his EEOC complaint.
Mr. Salas said the EEOC issued a notice of dismissal of the case filed by Mr. Aguon last November since the federal agency could not conclude that CPA violated the statutes prohibiting discrimination in employment.
He stressed, however, that CPA is taking the matter seriously, notwithstanding the earlier dismissal of the case by EEOC.
