ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. issued a show cause order to Engineer Bienvenido Batalliones who was formerly with the provincial government’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC).
Defensor gave Batalliones three days beginning Thursday to answer the extortion complaint lodged by former councilor Plaridel Nava of Iloilo City.
Nava accused Batalliones of extorting P30,000 from his construction company.
Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Dennis Ventilacion confirmed to Panay News that his office yesterday received the show cause order from the Human Resource Management and Development Office (HRMDO).
Should Batalliones fail to submit a reply, Governor Defensor will form a fact-finding committee to investigate Nava’s allegation.
“Even without sang sabat and despite sa iya (Batalliones) sabat – kung makita namon nga may basis to proceed sa investigation – ma-create man gihapon kami sang fact-finding committee,” said Ventilacion.
He added that Nava has yet to file a written or formal complaint as of this writing thus the provincial government initiated the issuance of the show cause order.
Meanwhile, Defensor clarified that Batalliones is no longer a member of the BAC’s technical working group following his resignation three weeks ago.
Batalliones is currently assigned at the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO).
Panay News tried to reach PEO head Engineer Romeo Andig Jr. but he declined to comment on the issue./PN
