Capitol exec told to explain delayed payment for catering

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – The head of the Provincial Agriculture Office was asked to explain the alleged delayed payment for catering services amounting to P1 million.

This, as the Provincial Legal Office (PLO) issued a show-cause order to Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino.

PLO head Alberto Nellas Jr. said the payment was supposed to be accounted for in 2018 yet.

Nellas said that Masculino already submitted his explanations but he did not divulge the details “for confidentiality purposes.”

“We are still assessing if there would be formal charges or not,” he said.

Nellas also stressed that the show-cause order is not an administrative case.

He added that it is possible that the payables may have accumulated.

Meanwhile, Nellas said he has already terminated the formal investigation on the administrative cases of former provincial budget officer Jose Percival Salado Jr. and Ma. Mina Pellejo, former head of the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Care Program.

“We are now finalizing the findings to be forwarded to the Office of the Governor for decision,” he said.

The formal investigation report will be assessed by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, who will render his decision.

“The final say still lies with the governor,” he said.

Nellas also said that they had to consult experts in budget and audit “considering that the cases were highly technical in nature since those involved financial matters”.

Salado is under investigation for gross neglect of duty after he allegedly “failed to submit comments, recommendations and/or objections during the discussion of legislation enacted and promulgated by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Council) in the creation of new positions by the province of Negros Occidental.”

Pellejo is also facing charges over an internal audit report stating that she went beyond the NOCHP budget and incurred liabilities.