• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Negros Occidental Provincial Legal Office has issued more show-cause orders to some Capitol executives and employees while an executive was stripped of his position by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr., who is also the officer-in-charge of the Provincial Administrator’s Office, said on Friday (July 5) that Anthony Carlos Agustin has been removed from his position as the provincial sports coordinator.
In lieu, Agustin, who serves as executive assistant IV at the Office of the Governor, was designated as liaison officer of the provincial government to Bacolod City.
Nellas said that the position vacated by Agustin has been taken over by the governor.
It was just a movement of personnel, he said but did not elaborate.
Agustin is on indefinite leave, he added.
Executive assistant IV Francis Velez was also issued a show-cause order to explain the withdrawal of several pieces of furniture from the Office of the Governor for repair without obtaining authorization from Lacson or the head of the procuring entity.
In a memorandum order, Nellas said “additionally, this action was taken without following the procurement process outlined in Republic Act (RA) 9184”.
On June 25, Velez issued an obligation request for labor and materials for the repair of furniture at the Office of the Governor’s, including four units of long sofa, two units of small sofa, 12 units of visitor’s chairs and four units of executive chairs with arms, amounting to P129,200.
This was done without any prior consultation with the governor or without his authority, Nellas said.
He noted that it was overpriced, based on their comparative research of the prevailing market price, and no bidding was held.
Nellas said that Velez could be held liable for violation of RA 9184, or the Procurement Law, and RA 3019, or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Velez, who declined to comment on the show-cause order, has been given until Monday (July 8) to submit his explanation.
Provincial Tourism Officer Cheryl Decena was also issued another show- cause order to explain the discrepancy of signatures of 13 individuals in a payroll, which did not match their submitted identification cards.
Also issued with show-cause orders were three employees assigned at the Provincial Tourism Office.
The 13 individuals form part of the drum beaters hired by the provincial government in an activity it sponsored.
Nellas said that Decena and the Provincial Tourism Office disbursement officers have already submitted their explanation, which they are now studying, before coming up with a resolution.
Decena and some disbursement officers of the Capitol-managed Mambukal Resort were earlier issued show-cause orders in connection with the catering unliquidated cash advances.
Decena, who used to be the Mambukal Resort officer-in-charge, before her designation as provincial tourism officer, said the performers have already issued notarized certification on the authenticity of their signatures in the payroll. | GB
