• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Work at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol and surrounding provincial offices in Bacolod City was temporarily suspended Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 9, following an alleged shooting threat against some employees.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson ordered the immediate suspension of work after an individual, whose identity is being withheld, allegedly threatened employees while he was at the Provincial Capitol.
The incident disrupted normal government operations and raised security concerns for provincial employees, officials and other persons inside the Capitol building.
Charlyn Matti, a staff member of the Office of the Governor, said the man came to their office looking for Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, and claimed that he needed to retrieve documents.
A staff member of the Provincial Administrator’s Office reportedly asked him for a receiving copy of the documents he was seeking.
However, he could not produce one, claiming that he had personally handed the documents to Diaz.
The man was asked to wait while Capitol personnel looked for the documents.
Matti said he later became angry over the delay and allegedly threatened to shoot Diaz.
“Is Rayfrando there?” the man reportedly asked.
When told that Diaz was not around because he was attending a meeting, the man allegedly responded that he would shoot him.
Matti clarified that the threat was specifically directed at Diaz and not at other Capitol employees.
The documents being sought were reportedly related to a bulk water supply project.
In a statement, Diaz said “he was not personally available to protect Capitol employees when the verbal abuse and threats happened,” adding that “he was not present to attend to whatever needs the perpetrator required that drove him to anger.”
Diaz said they are now reviewing security standard procedures to prevent similar situations from happening in the future, adding that traumatized Capitol employees will also receive counseling to help them heal.
“Taken in the light of recent mass shootings happening even in school, we cannot take anything for granted,” he added.
In his order suspending work, Lacson said the reported security incident posed a possible and immediate danger not only to the employees concerned but also to other provincial personnel, officials and members of the public within the Provincial Capitol.
He stressed that the safety, security and well-being of all provincial personnel must be given paramount consideration.
Lacson directed all concerned to remain vigilant and strictly comply with security protocols and instructions issued by proper authorities.
Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. said they will draft a complaint and to determine whoever Capitol employees are being threatened. | GPB
