BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has suspended two department heads of Negros Occidental provincial government while being investigated for separate administrative cases.
In a memorandum order dated June 6, Lacson placed under 60-day preventive suspension Provincial Budget officer Jose Percival Salado Jr. and Recreation and Mambukal Resort Welfare Services officer V Ellen Marie Jalandoni.
Lacson in his order stated: “After a careful perusal of the allegations and evidence available and presented, this office concludes that a prima facie case for Gross Neglect of Duty exists against you (respondent).”
“The administrative charges warrant a preventive suspension in view of the fact that the respondent exercises authority over the herein witnesses and the Provincial Budget Office where evidence, testimonial or documentary are available. It is therefore imperative that the witnesses, other testimonial and documentary evidence, as well as the proceedings itself, be protected from whatever form of influence from the respondent to give due course to a fair and impartial investigation and hearing,” he added.
The memo also ordered Salado and Jalandoni to refrain from entering the premises of the Provincial Capitol, Provincial Budget Office and any of its offices during the duration of his suspension or from doing such acts that will influence the witnesses and the proceeding.
Salado’s suspension stemmed from an alleged failure, as budget officer, to study and evaluate the budgetary implications and non-submission of comments, recommendations and objections the proposal and discussion of legislations enacted and promulgated by the Provincial Board in the creation of new positions by the Province of Negros Occidental in its annual budget for fiscal years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. This thereby increased the excess in the PS cap allowance from P106,134,890.46 in 2015 to P595,224,524.03 in 2019 and leading to the disallowance of the said amount in 2019 and prohibition on Province of Negros Occidental to provide for additional PS items until such time that the PS cap is observed.
Commenting on the governor’s order, Salado affirmed that he had received the suspension order on Monday. He pointed out receiving a show cause order in March attributing him for the offense. However, he stated it does not fall on his function because it is the job of the Provincial Board, which tells them about the plantilla and salary for every position.
On Tuesday, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said they acted on the complaints from the Commission on Audit (COA) and from the Internal Audit Division.
“We had to act on it. The investigation started in December in some cases. When the Covid-19 crisis happened, we stopped the process for humanitarian reasons,” he said.
Diaz said the provincial government proceeded with the administrative process as Negros Occidental is now under modified general community quarantine,
“The COA continues to write to us regarding the continuous violation of the province in terms of going beyond the 45 percent ceiling in the budget for Personal Services. All these things are prompted by the investigation of independent bodies, not initiated by the province,” he added.
Diaz said those placed under preventive suspension may opt to submit a position paper or undergo a formal hearing. (With PNA/PN)
