- GILBERT BAYORAN
Two more employees of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) were issued with show cause orders in connection with the missing 789 sacks of fertilizer, worth P2,367,000, at the Rice Processing Center in Brgy. Tabunan, Bago City, Negros Occidental.
Provincial Legal Officer, Atty. Alberto Nellas Jr., said Thursday the show cause orders were issued May 2 and received by Joy Cardinal and Herminigildo Basilio, both OPA employees assigned at the Rice Processing Center.
They were given five days upon receipt of the order to submit their explanations.
Nellas, however, said there is no basis to issue a show cause order against three security personnel assigned at the center since they were only tasked to protect and secure its perimeter.
The responsibility to safeguard and release the contents of the warehouse is with the OPA, he stressed.
Nellas said that it was in October last year that the missing sacks of fertilizer were discovered and the final report was submitted to them by OPA early last month, for consideration of administrative proceedings.
In a memorandum order issued by the Provincial Administrator’s Office dated April 27, based on the report from Provincial Agriculturist Edmundo Causing, it said that fertilizer allotted to the Rice Processing Center were not withdrawn completely on Oct. 1, 2022, “because there were no fertilizer left”.
It also said that on Oct. 18 last year, the municipality of Cauayan reported that they were not able to withdraw the fertilizer allotted to them at the RPC storage since there was no longer any fertilizer left.
During an inventory, it was found out that 789 bags of fertilizer were missing, Provincial Administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, said.
Failure to submit an explanation “shall be considered a waiver thereof and the preliminary investigation maybe completed even without your explanation, comment, or affidavit,” Diaz added, apparently referring to Basilio and Cardinal.
Early this year, the provincial government of Negros Occidental dismissed from public service some OPA personnel over a drinking spree while on official travel in Victorias City.
The PLO is also wrapping up its investigation against another OPA employee, Engr. Jimbo Garsula, for a similar offense.
An investigation is also ongoing in the case of three missing grass cutters, valued at P20,000, that were delivered and left behind at the Infotech area, also in Brgy. Tabunan, Bago City.
“This administration is serious about anomalies,” said Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson. “They can’t get away with it, once we take notice of it. All these should stop already.”/GB
