By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Provincial Legal Office (PLO) confirmed yesterday morning they have received a copy of the appeal submitted by the dismissed employee of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) to the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

PLO head, Atty. Alberto Nellas Jr. said former OPA employee Hermenegildo Basilio has the right to await a response from the CSC.

Basilio’s appeal pertains to the disappearance of 789 fertilizer sacks from the province’s warehouse.

However, Nellas said Basilio is still being held accountable for the missing P2.3 million worth of fertilizers.

Basilio and another OPA employee, agriculturist Joy Cardinal, were dismissed last month for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and malversation of public funds.

The PLO awaits an explanation from the Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas (DA-6) on the supplier responsible for delivering the fertilizer to the Negros First Rice Processing Center.

It was discovered that fertilizer bags arrived at the warehouse beyond office hours.

Nellas said the funds used to purchase fertilizers came from DA-6.

He reminded suppliers to refrain from delivering goods to the warehouses beyond office hours./DGB, WDJ