By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA

A regular employee of the Bacolod City government is under investigation for allegedly using his position to avoid paying a bill at a business establishment in the city.

City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu said they served a show-cause order on the male employee assigned to the City Legal Office (CLO).

The employee, a member of the joint inspection team, has been given due process and granted five days to respond to the complaint.

Once the employee submits his affidavit, Chiu said Mayor Greg Gasataya will determine whether to issue a formal charge or place under preventive suspension the concerned official.

The complaint alleged that on June 27, the employee attempted to leave the business establishment without paying for drinks and services he had consumed.

When confronted about the unpaid bill, he allegedly grabbed the bar employee’s shirt and forcibly pulled him toward the entrance.

Chiu said the employee allegedly used his CLO position to intimidate the complainants and threaten the closure of the bar.

He also allegedly berated the employees in the presence of other customers, causing a disturbance inside the establishment.

Chiu said that if substantiated by evidence, the allegations may constitute grounds for administrative liability, including grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and other related administrative offenses as the evidence may warrant.

He stressed that the incident occurred beyond office hours and was outside the employee’s regular duties as the driver of the enforcement team.

Chiu also assured the public that there would be “no whitewash” in the investigation.

The CLO is also investigating other city government employees who are facing similar complaints./MAP, WDJ