- CHERYL G. CRUZ
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez said Thursday, July 20, he believes there was “inside job” in the proliferation of fake business permits, assessments, and official receipts, and that former job order employees were involved, along with fixers.
Benitez said in a press conference Thursday that the City Treasurer’s Office has, so far, discovered about 90 fake business permits, as per a report submitted to him July 19.
He said the fake permits were discovered during the renewal process, and surmised that the illegal activity has been going on for years, or even decades.
“This is because of the active participation of Bacolodnons…and the system we put in place” with the official documents and permits bearing QR codes for easy validation if these papers are authentic, Benitez said.
Due process and further investigation will be done, the mayor said, although he confirmed that several of those reportedly involved were former JOs. “I’d like to make sure so napa investigate ta.”
He urged Bacolodnons to be active participants of governance, and encourage them to immediately report anomalous transactions and wrongdoings, through https://bit.ly/ISUGIDKAYMAYORALBEE.
He said the city has institutionalized the “Be the Change” program, and even already recognized a businessman as first awardee under the program last month.
“Through the Be the Change program, we want to instill discipline and promote volunteerism, we want Bacolodnons nga mangin good citizens, mangin agents of development,” Benitez had said.
“We are empowering Bacolodnons to get involved in governance. Nag-launch kita sang QR Code kun sa diin isugid niyo ang tanan nga reklamo. Pagka-baton sang reklamo, i-refer gilayon sa concerned office para pangitaan solusyon ang reklamo,” the mayor earlier stressed./CGC
