Suspended Negros Occ official posts bail for case

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Suspended Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz posted bail last week in a criminal case filed against him for conflict of interest.

Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Alberto Nellas did not categorically confirm the report, saying, “We learned about it at the same time as everyone else.”

“We will take the facts as they are. That’s how much the province knows,” Nellas told reporters on Monday.

He declined to elaborate further as “I think the case is personal to Atty. Diaz.”

“I cannot comment on the case; again, it’s a personal matter to Atty. Diaz.”

However, Nellas surmised that “if bail was posted, there likely was a warrant.”

He added that this would not affect Diaz’s work with the provincial government, explaining that Diaz had filed a motion for reconsideration with the Ombudsman, and as far as the case is concerned, there is no finality yet.

“We are looking forward to the return of Atty. Diaz to the provincial government,” Nellas said.

Diaz reportedly posted a ₱30,000 bail before the Cadiz Regional Trial Court on Thursday.

A warrant of arrest was issued by Himamaylan Municipal Trial Circuit Court Presiding Judge Enrique Barcelona. However, Diaz posted bail before it could be served.

Diaz’s six-month suspension will end in December 2024.

Earlier, the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas imposed a six-month suspension on Diaz without pay in connection with administrative charges filed against him and two others for alleged grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, oppression, serious dishonesty, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the public, and violation of Republic Act No. 6713.

Similar charges were filed against Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Alberto Nellas and Executive Assistant II Chery Sheil Valenzuela, who also serves as the Provincial Bids and Awards secretary.

The complaint was filed by Atty. Roxenne Sumanting, stemming from the alleged failure of the respondents to provide legal assistance or representation to the Binalbagan municipal government in connection with an expropriation case filed by the municipality with the Regional Trial Court of Himamaylan.

The complaint also cited a conflict of interest on the part of Diaz and Valenzuela, who appeared as counsels for JLL Agriculture & Development (JLL), one of the defendants in the expropriation case, during their tenures as Provincial Administrator and Executive Assistant II, respectively.

Valenzuela was also suspended for six months without pay by the Ombudsman.

However, the Ombudsman dismissed the administrative complaint against Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Alberto Nellas Jr. for lack of merit.