BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental’s provincial legal officer (PLO), Atty. Alberto Nellas, Jr., confirmed yesterday morning that they ordered an additional 60-day preventive suspension against two engineers assigned at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) for grave misconduct.
Nellas said OPA engineers Jimbo Garsula, head of Agricultural Engineering, and German Abihay were suspended over underspec grain dryers and for the machines’ lacking some parts or instruments back in 2017.
The suspension order took effect on Nov. 7.
“It took some time to verify our records and come up with the case,” Nellas pointed out.
Payments were made despite the machines’ condition.
Nellas explained the machines that were lacking in parts or instruments were procured in 2017 but were only received in 2022.
“Definitely a substantial amount was involved,” the PLO said.
The additional preventive suspension was based on procedure under the Civil Service rules in order to avoid tampering with evidence.
Nellas emphasized that Gov. Eugenio Lacson has conformed to their findings.
The two officials were among the five OPA officials and employees that were earlier charged with grave misconduct and misuse of government property, and meted a 60-day preventive suspension on Aug. 25, 2022, after they had a drinking session in Victorias City while on official travel on July 15, 2022.
He said the preventive suspension of the OPA employees was not a penalty in itself but rather a mechanism so that the ongoing investigation of the complaint against them would be protected./PN
