By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. placed Provincial Agriculturist, Engr. Igmedio Tabianan, on a 60-day preventive suspension effective March 21 on the grounds of alleged grave misconduct and malversation of public funds.
According to prosecuting attorney Ernie Magaspag, Tabianan is suspected of allowing Ariel Tuvilla, a subordinate at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), who was also suspended, to take half the salary of a certain Kenneth Abaring between July and November of 2016. It was also reported Abaring was coerced not to report the incident to the Accounting Office.
Tabianan is also alleged to have tasked Rodney Batarilan with organizing the United Towards Organic Development (UTOD) Party-list in 2015, which has no function in his role at the OPA. His salary was also said to have been docked by Tuvilla.
The suspended official is also barred from entering the Provincial Capitol during his suspension in order to “give due course to a fair and impartial investigation and hearing.”
Tabianan is also being suspended without pay, however, Atty. John Michael Yee of the Provincial Legal Office said, if he is found not guilty, he is entitled to backwages.
The respondent has since been given three days to submit additional evidence and whether he elects to have a formal investigation or submission of position papers.
In the meantime, Atty. Japhet Masculino will serve as acting chief of the OPA./WDJ