City Hall mulls show-cause orders to two gov’t workers over ‘extortion’

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The City Legal Office (CLO) here will recommend to Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez the issuance of show-cause orders on two government employees assigned to the Office of the Building Official (OBO).

This, after these two employees, who are building inspectors, were accused of alleged extortion during a Mayor’s Permit renewal inspection here.

Atty. Romeo Carlos Ting Jr., CLO head, said these employees had already submitted their explanation last Wednesday, which is ahead of the three-day period given to them.

It was alleged that these personnel demanded P5,000 to expedite the OBO clearance approval on January 11, 2024.

Ting said that these building inspectors denied the allegations against them, saying that they only did their work.

But, he stressed that there was a video showing the alleged offense that has reached the attention of the mayor.

“Ara sa video – may evidence, gin daho sila, nag daw-anay sila. Tapos naka log book pa gid sila,” Ting said, in a media interview.

Ting said they are still gathering evidence so that they can make a recommendation to the mayor for their preventive suspension.

Ting said they can be charged for graft and corrupt practices.

The City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) is only authorized to receive payments during the renewal of business permits.