The Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) head and the former provincial agriculturist of Negros Occidental have sought 15-day extensions to answer administrative charges lodged against them, Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. said Thursday, August 19.
HRMO head Anabelle Palic and retired Negros Occidental Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino were granted the extensions in the spirit of fair play, and have until August 28 to submit their answers, Nellas said.
Palic, who has been suspended for 60 days, was initially given three days to submit her evidence, and state if she will opt for a formal hearing or submit a position paper, he said.
She, however, filed a motion for extension of time.
Palic is facing charges for oppression, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave misconduct and for being notoriously undesirable based on prima facie evidence, Nellas said.
The charges stem from a complaint by the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees wherein 57 job order workers at the Mambukal Resort in Murcia, one utility worker at the General Services Office and three retirees alleged that Palic imposed burdensome and baseless requirements in the processing of their respective plantilla, salaries, quarantine and sick leave, and Government Service Insurance System benefits.
Masculino is facing formal charges for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, falsification of an official document and gross neglect.
The charges stem from the unpaid catering services for Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) trainers training activities in 2018 totaling about P1 million.
Nellas said no money was dispersed by the provincial government, but there were discrepancies in the documentation.*