BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The recent firing of four employees of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) should serve as a warning to provincial government employees not to be abusive, Negros Occidental provincial administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz said.
According to Diaz, this was not the first time they had to impose disciplinary action on erring personnel, pointing out that the provincial government does not come short when it comes to giving them their bonuses and benefits.
He reminded capitol employees to take care of their work, not abuse the use of government-owned properties, and not engage in activities that violate the civil service law.
Last week, Provincial Legal Officer (PLO) Atty. Alberto Nellas Jr. said engineers German Abihay, Ramelo Letran, Rezin Palacios, and Project Development Assistant Maria Luisa Abano were dismissed from their posts at the OPA.
Their dismissal order took effect on Jan. 3, 2023, and was signed by Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.
Nellas said the four can still appeal their dismissal through the Civil Service Commission (CSC), although since the order was “final and executor”, they will no longer be allowed to work in the provincial government.
The four were also be penalized with the forfeiture of retirement benefits, cancellation of eligibility, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, and being barred from taking civil service examinations.
Nellas said the fifth person in the case, Engineer Jimbo Garsula, elected for a formal investigation and hearing, which is still ongoing.
Previously, all five were slapped with a 60-day preventive suspension following their alleged drinking binge during an official trip to Victorias City in July of last year.
The complaint was filed by a provincial government driver, who claimed that the five failed to show up for the return trip to Bacolod City, and it was later discovered that they were in a drinking session inside a restaurant.
One of them also allegedly threw expletives at the driver after he told them they needed to return to Bacolod City.
After being slapped with show cause orders, one of the OPA employees replied, stating that it was “an insult to refuse the hospitality of the counterpart of an agriculturalist from Victoria”./PN
