Two OPA personnel fall guys in missing fertilizer scam?

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Were the two personnel of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) of Negros Occidental who were made to answer for the missing 789 bags of fertilizers from the provincial government warehouse merely fall guys?

“It’s not for me to say. We only resolve the evidence presented,” Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Alberto Nellas replied.

The PLO has recommended the termination of a casual employee of the OPA over the 789 sacks of fertilizer worth P2.3 million that went missing from the provincial government warehouse in Brgy. Tabunan, Bago City.

Nellas told reporters that they have recommended the non-renewal of the contract of Joy Cardinal, whose term as a casual employee will end on June 30.

Cardinal and another OPA employee, Hermenigildo Basilio, were placed under 60-day preventive suspension and are facing charges for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and malversation of public funds.

Nellas said that Basilio, a regular employee of OPA, opted not to avail of a formal investigation hearing after submitting his explanations to the complaints due to financial constraints.

But he said they will still give Basilio an option to submit a position paper, including evidence, before proceeding to a formal investigation.

According to Nellas, Basilio claimed that he was just ordered to receive the fertilizers, and he should not be held accountable.

“Since he received it, he will be the accountable officer. There is a presumption and he has to answer for it,” Nellas said.

A total of 2,000 bags of fertilizers from the Department of Agriculture were stored at the warehouse for distribution to various local government units. Both Basilio and Cardinal were stationed at and in charge of the warehouse.

Earlier, Nellas disclosed that they received a report from the OPA and Security and Safety Division on April 3, 2023, although the incident was discovered in October 2022 after the municipal government of Cauayan tried to withdraw its share of fertilizers.