BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The provincial government of Negros Occidental is preparing for its next course of action on four employees of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) terminated last week over last year’s drinking binge.
Provincial legal officer, Atty. Alberto Nellas Jr., said the four have until tomorrow, Jan. 19, to file a motion for reconsideration before Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson who serves as the disciplining authority.
The four also have the option to directly appeal their dismissal from the service before the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
The termination order was served against the four back in Jan. 4, and although Nellas earlier said their dismissal was “final and executor” they were still given 15 days to take action before the order becomes final.
The four axed OPA employees were identified as engineers German Abihay, Ramelo Letran, Rezin Palacios, and project development assistant Maria Luisa Abano.
Aside from the dismissal from the service, the four were also penalized with forfeiture of retirement benefits, cancellation of eligibility, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, and 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 binge drinking during an official travel to Victorias City in July last year.
According to the complaint filed by a provincial government driver, the five went to Victorias City Hall on “official travel.”
The driver 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 restaurant drinking.
One of the involved OPA employees allegedly threw expletives against the driver after he told them they needed to return to Bacolod City.
According to Nellas, the incident should serve as a warning to all employees of the provincial government not to be abusive, pointing out that the governor and provincial administrator do not come short when it comes to giving them their bonuses and additional benefits./PN
