Iloilo PICAO chief faces show cause order over posts

ILOILO CITY — The social media activity of Iloilo Provincial Information and Community Affairs Office (PICAO) chief Nerio Lujan has come under administrative scrutiny after Iloilo City Councilor Jose Maria “Nene” Dela Llana asked Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. to take disciplinary action.

Provincial Legal Officer Dennis Ventilacion confirmed Monday, Oct. 5, that a show-cause order was issued to Lujan in connection with Dela Llana’s complaint over his Facebook posts concerning the Iloilo City government.

Ventilacion said Defensor signed the order, and the Human Resource Management and Development Office (HRMDO), headed by Renee Coy Valencia, served it.

Lujan was given three working days to answer the allegations.

“The show cause order gives Lujan the opportunity to answer,” Ventilacion said in an interview.

He added that after Lujan submits his response, the governor will determine whether to dismiss the complaint or give it due course.

If the complaint proceeds and sufficient evidence is established, the matter will be resolved based on the evidence and Lujan’s answer, in accordance with applicable civil service rules and administrative procedures.

‘Peddling fake news’

In his Sept. 24 letter to Defensor, Dela Llana accused Lujan of allegedly “peddling fake news” against the Iloilo City government and making Facebook posts “almost every day during office hours.”

The councilor also alleged that Lujan’s posts sought to damage the reputation of the city government, its officials and personnel.

Dela Llana further claimed that Lujan had imputed corruption and inefficiency to city officials and employees.

He asked Defensor to discipline Lujan, saying the PICAO chief should be treated like any other provincial government employee when allegations of inappropriate conduct are raised.

Dela Llana attached copies of what he described as numerous posts as supporting documents for his complaint.

Lujan asks for proof

In a written explanation prepared in response to the show cause order, Lujan disputed the sufficiency and specificity of the allegations.

The copy of the written explanation obtained by Daily Guardian was unsigned.

Lujan argued that the allegations were too general for him to meaningfully answer, particularly the accusation that he was “peddling fake news.”

He said the complaint did not identify which particular Facebook post allegedly constituted fake news, which specific statement was supposedly false, or what facts established its falsity.

Lujan maintained that he could not meaningfully refute an allegation of falsity unless the complaint identified the particular statement and the factual basis for declaring it false.

He likewise questioned the allegation that he made posts during office hours, saying the screenshots attached to the complaint generally showed only relative timestamps and did not establish when the posts were actually published.

Lujan also disputed the allegation that his posts were intended to damage the reputation of the Iloilo City government, saying the complaint did not identify the particular posts or statements that supposedly showed such intent.

He further questioned the evidentiary weight of the materials attached to Dela Llana’s letter.

Lujan noted that the Sept. 24 letter was not subscribed and sworn to as an administrative complaint.

He also said the attached printouts did not appear to have been verified or authenticated as to their source, completeness, context, or dates and times of publication.

While recognizing that the show cause order stated that the proceedings were being initiated motu proprio, Lujan said these matters were relevant in determining the evidentiary weight that should be given to the allegations and attachments.

Lujan also challenged Dela Llana’s reference to the numerous posts as “collective proof” of his alleged inappropriate conduct.

He argued that the number of printouts could not substitute for identifying the particular acts being complained of and the evidence supporting each allegation.

Lujan said that until the allegations are properly specified and substantiated, the attached printouts and screenshots do not provide sufficient factual basis to conclude that he committed administrative misconduct or that disciplinary action is warranted.

He asked that the allegations be dismissed for lack of sufficient factual basis.

Alternatively, Lujan requested that the specific posts, statements, dates, times and evidence relied upon be identified and that he be given an opportunity to respond.

Lujan confirmed later Monday that he had submitted his response to the show cause order.