Bacolod mayor warns city workers over corruption claims

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya issued a stern warning Monday against city government employees allegedly involved in irregularities.

“No matter which barangay you are from, if there is a legitimate complaint that we receive—signed and with an affidavit—we will act on the matter,” he said during a press conference at his office.

Gasataya made the statement in response to a media question regarding a show cause order served to a city government personnel accused of soliciting money in exchange for fast-tracking a government permit.

“That is what I keep repeating,” he said.

“We are not here just to sit down and play politics. We did not assume our positions for any other reason. We are here to work.”

“The obligation and responsibility lie with the people, which is why they should not test us,” Gasataya emphasized.

He said the city government employee under investigation has submitted a reply, which has been endorsed to the City Legal Office.

Earlier, City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu confirmed that a show cause order was issued against former Office of the Building Official (OBO) head Engineer Isidro Sun Jr., signed by Mayor Gasataya.

The order stemmed from a report alleging that on June 30, 2025, Sun instructed an OBO job order employee to approve and clear the business permit application of an establishment in Barangay Mansilingan despite the absence of a duly issued certificate of occupancy.

Chiu said the incident report submitted by the OBO revealed the application did not follow the regular processing protocol.

There was also no logbook entry and no proper endorsement from the assigned engineer.

Chiu added that Sun allegedly demanded PHP13,000, later reduced to PHP11,000, for the release of the occupancy permit.

If proven, Chiu said these actions could constitute grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Such violations are punishable under the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service and Section 13 of Republic Act 11032, or the Anti-Fixing provision of the Ease of Doing Business law.

Sun, for his part, claimed their office previously approved repairs of old houses without requiring building permits.

He also lamented that other engineers are not charged for signing similar documents, while he is closely monitored and penalized.