By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Suspended Provincial Agriculturist, Engr. Igmedio Tabianan, formally resigned from his post yesterday morning.
Tabianan, in his letter to Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr., said he resigned for personal reasons and to make more time for his family.
In the letter, he also thanked the governor for his support, and assistance he has provided for him, his family, and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA).
Last month, Marañon placed Tabianan on a 60-day preventive suspension, following allegations of grave misconduct and malversation of public funds.
According to prosecuting attorney Ernie Magaspag, Tabianan is suspected of allowing Ariel Tuvilla, a subordinate at the 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 that 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.
Currently, Atty. Japhet Masculino operates as acting OPA chief./WDJ