BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Two personnel of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) of Negros Occidental are facing charges in relation to the missing fertilizers worth P2.3 million at the Negros First Rice Processing Center (NFRPC) in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City.
Atty. Alberto Nellas Jr., Provincial Legal Officer (PLO), on Tuesday, June 7, said Joy Cardinal and Herminigildo Basilio face administrative charges for alleged grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and malversation of public funds.
Prior to this, the two have been slapped with a 60-day preventive suspension.
According to Nellas, a preliminary probe by the investigating officer and based on the investigation report, show cause orders dated April 27, 2023, and evidence submitted by the involved parties, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson found prima facie evidence for administrative charges.
The NFRPC received 2,000 bags of fertilizers from the Department of Agriculture for safekeeping; these were intended for distribution to local government units.
On Oct. 18, 2022, the municipality of Cauayan reported that they were not able to
get from the NFRPC the fertilizers since there were no more fertilizers left; and that the subsequent inventory count would reveal that there were still 789 bags of the abovementioned fertilizers with an established value of P2,367,000.
Cardinal and Basilio were in-charge of the said warehouse at the time of the disappearance of the fertilizer bags, Nellas said.
“Pursuant to Section 23 in relation to Rule 27 of the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service, the respondents are hereby directed to answer the charge in writing, under oath within three days from receipt hereof,” Nellas added.
The respondents were also advised to indicate whether or not they elect for a formal investigation.
Nellas added failure to answer within the allotted time period will be considered a waiver to submit the same and the case will be decided based on available records./PN
