Negros Occ. PLO issues new show cause orders

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – The Provincial Legal Office (PLO) of Negros Occidental has issued another round of show cause orders, including to two executive assistants of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.

PLO chief Atty. Alberto Nellas, who is also acting as the Provincial Administrator, said on Friday that a sports executive was ousted from his position by the governor.

Nellas confirmed that Anthony Carlos Agustin was stripped of his position as Provincial Sports Coordinator.

Agustin holds the rank of Executive Assistant IV at the Office of the Governor.

The governor has taken over the position of Provincial Sports Coordinator while Agustin was given another designation.

Nellas downplayed the case of Agustin and did not disclose why he was stripped of his position, saying it was just “a movement of personnel.”

Another executive assistant, Executive Assistant IV Francis Velez, was also issued a show cause order by Nellas.

Velez was asked to explain the withdrawal of several pieces of furniture from the Office of the Governor for repair without the governor’s authority.

“Additionally, this action was taken without following the procurement process outlined in Republic Act (RA) 9184,” Nellas said

Records show that on June 25, Velez issued an Obligation Request for labor and materials for the repair of furniture at the Office of the Governor, including four long sofas, two small sofas, 12 visitor chairs, and four executive chairs with arms, amounting to P129,200.

“This was done without any prior consultation with Gov. Lacson, or his authority,” Nellas pointed out.

He further noted that based on their comparative research of prevailing market prices, the items were overpriced, and no bidding was held.

Velez could be liable for alleged violations of RA 9184, the Procurement Law, and RA 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Velez declined to comment on the show cause order and has until Monday next week to submit his reply.

Nellas also said that Provincial Tourism Officer Cheryl Decena was issued another show-cause order.

Decena was asked to explain the alleged discrepancy of 13 signatures in a payroll that did not match the signatures in the submitted identification cards of the concerned individuals.

The 13 individuals are said to be members of a drum-beating squad in a provincial government activity.

Aside from Decena, three other employees of the PTO were also issued show-cause orders.

Decena said those performers have already issued notarized certifications confirming the authenticity of their signatures in the payroll.