• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The two building inspectors of the Office of the Building Official (OBO) earlier accused of extortion are on preventive suspension for 60 days, Bacolod City Legal officer, Atty. Romeo Carlos Ting Jr., said Feb. 12.
Ting said he already signed a suspension order and have formally charged the two regular employees for gross misconduct, but refused to identify them. A hearing will be conducted soon.
The two personnel reportedly “demanded P5,000 to expedite the OBO clearance approval during a mayor’s permit renewal inspection” on Jan. 11, 2024.
Ting said that based on the affidavit of the complainant, the initial amount asked was P15,000.
He said they will determine during the hearing if the two followed the proper inspection process, although it was already determined that no appointment was issued to conduct an inspection that day. “May nanawag lang sa ila” to go there.
Mayor Alfredo Benitez said the hearing will be the forum for these OBO personnel to refute the allegations. “But the charges (for gross misconduct) were filed based on evidences.”
He stressed that his administration will be unrelenting with regard its anti-corruption drive. “These are the things that we will never tolerate. If it requires suspending or dismissing a huge number of employees, so be it…indi pwede pabay-an lang.” | CGC
