Admin proceedings go on against retired OPA chief

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Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. yesterday said that the retirement of former Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino will not stop the administrative proceedings, steaming from the show-cause orders issued against him.

The PLO issued three show cause orders against the 62-year-old Masculino, who after 39 years, bowed out from public service on June 30 after filing an optional retirement.

Atty. Japhet Masculino

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson named Atty. Dina Gensola as acting head of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.

Masculino was issued three show cause orders involving an unpaid catering services, a farm equipment delivery, and 23 uncompleted irrigation projects from 214 to 2017.

Nellas said Masculino has already answered the two show cause orders, while he asked an extension for the submission of his explanations on the third order.

Masculino earlier said that he will pay the P1 million unpaid catering services from his retirement benefits.

However, Nellas pointed out that payment of monetary debt does not settle an administrative liability.

“We always work on the premise that public service, is a public trust,” he said.

Nellas said that they are now finalizing their findings on the unpaid catering services that will be submitted to the governor. He refused to comment on their investigations on the grain dryer issue.

The provincial legal officer said that while Masculino can still process his retirement papers, issuance of clearances will be stopped if there is a formal charge against him for administrative cases.

As of this time, Nellas said there is no formal charge against Masculino.

Aside from the retired provincial agriculturist, he said two other persons were issued a show cause order, in relation to the uncompleted irrigation projects.

He refused to name the two Capitol personnel. – GB