• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Another regular employee of the Bacolod City Treasurer’s Office was issued a show-cause order (SCO) following a complaint from a bar owner on unauthorized tax collections.
City Legal Office spokesperson, Atty. Vanessa Encabo, said July 24 that the employee allegedly collected an amusement tax from the establishment despite the absence of any event at that time that would warrant the levy.
“The mayor issued another show-cause order to the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO), which we have already served. The first person we served received a supplemental SCO, meaning there are additional allegations, along with another complaint coming from a bar establishment,” Encabo said.
So, the total number of CTO employees issued a show-cause order is now two, she added.
Two other bar owners earlier filed similar complaints against a Treasurer’s Office employee, with the offense committed in the last week of December 2025 and early days of 2026.
Investigation showed the employee provided the establishment with an assessment form upon receiving the payment, but failed to issue an official receipt.
Encabo said they are still verifying whether the two employees acted together during the collection process.
She said an amusement tax is only collectible if an establishment holds an event that charges an admission fee from attendees. The rate is calculated based on the total income generated during the specific activity. | TMD
