BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental provincial administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz reminded employees of the provincial government that taking “happy hours” during official travel is strictly prohibited.
Recently, five employees of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) were issued with show cause orders for an alleged drinking binge during official travel in Victorias City on July 15.
According to Diaz, “happy hours” should be enjoyed outside of the official government travel time only.
So far, Diaz said, one of the five OPA employees had submitted a reply to the show cause order.
The employee stated it was “an insult to refuse the hospitality of the counterpart of an agriculturist of Victorias.”
Diaz said they will wait for the reply of the other four OPA employees and will leave the investigation to the Provincial Legal Office (PLO).
Earlier, Atty. Alberto Nellas Jr., of the PLO said a formal complaint for alleged misuse of government property and grave misconduct was filed by a driver working for the provincial government who serviced the five employees.
According to Nellas, the driver waited for the employees until 8 p.m. when the Victorias City Hall was closed for the night.
It was discovered later that the involved employees were inside a restaurant allegedly in a drinking binge.
One of the involved senior employees allegedly threw expletives when the capitol driver called them out.
“We will be getting their side,” Nellas said./PN
