By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said yesterday that the investigation against the two personnel of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) allegedly involved in the disappearance of 789 fertilizer bags at the Negros First Rice Processing Center (NFRPC) warehouse in Bago City is almost done.
Lacson affirmed the earlier statements from provincial legal officer Atty. Alberto Nellas, Jr. that OPA agriculturists Hermenegildo Basilio and Joy Cardinal have admitted signing the form to receive the fertilizers.
He added that Cardinal’s contract as a casual employee for OPA would no longer be renewed.
Basilio, as a regular employee, will be given the opportunity to defend himself.
Meanwhile, Lacson said the provincial government will be looking for funds for its fertilizer program.
The local government units in Negros Occidental that have not received their allotted fertilizers from the Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas (DA-6) will be the priority.
Lacson also believes that those involved in the delivery of the fertilizers to the NFRPC should also be investigated, as their signatures affixed to the receiving form will be used as evidence.
He also revealed that there was also no record as to who released the fertilizer bags.
Earlier, the DA-6 called on the provincial government to reimburse the missing fertilizers valued at P2.3 million.
The fertilizers, part of the agency’s calamity fund, were intended to aid farmers affected by Super Typhoon “Odette” in 2021.
A total of 4,170 fertilizer bags were allocated to Negros Occidental, of which, 360 were allotted for Kabankalan City, 200 bags for Cadiz City, 193 for Cauayan town, and 36 for Bago City, based on DA-6’s data.
DA-6 executive director, Engineer Albert Barrogo, has instructed their legal office to conduct an investigation into the missing 789 fertilizer bags at the NFRPC.
He emphasized that a thorough investigation will identify the true culprits responsible for the theft and ensure that the innocent parties are not implicated./DGB, WDJ