The provincial government of Negros Occidental is set to inaugurate the Negros Occidental Food Terminal Market, located across Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City, tomorrow, May 29, 2021. (Provincial Government of Negros Occidental photos)

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Provincial Legal Office of Negros Occidental has issued a show-cause order against provincial agriculturist, Atty. Japhet Masculino, over the alleged unpaid or unsettled catering services.

Atty. Alberto Nellas, provincial legal officer, said the alleged unsettled catering involves about more than P1 million under the office of Masculino over a catering service that happened in 2018.

Nellas said Masculino immediately replied to the show-cause order.

“It’s just a show-cause order in response to the demand of the catering company,” Nellas explained.

The provincial legal officer said they will assess if Masculino will indeed be charged administratively.

Meanwhile, Nellas revealed that as to the formal investigation against some other department heads who were also issued show-cause order earlier, the result of the investigation will come out soon.

He said that the investigation report against former provincial budget officer Jose Percival Salado and Ma. Mina Pellejo, officer in charge of the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program Division, will come out soon and that it has already been submitted to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.

He said that the pandemic delayed the investigation process.

Salado has been relieved from his office, while a show-cause order was also issued to Pellejo.

Provincial administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, meanwhile, denied allegations that such move against some of the department heads is a “witch hunt” since some of the department heads were identified to have been appointed by the late Alfredo Marañon, Jr.

“There is nothing personal or political,” Diaz said.

Lacson, in his formal charge against Salado, docketed as Administrative Case 20- 003 for gross neglect of duty, said Salado as provincial budget officer “failed to submit comments, recommendations and/or objections during the discussion of legislation enacted and promulgated by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Council) in the creation of new positions by the province of Negros Occidental.”

Salado denied the allegations, saying he would follow the investigation procedure./DGB, WDJ