A Bacolod City Office of the Building Official inspector was dismissed from the service, while an engineer was suspended for nine months effective Wednesday, March 12.
The two were charged for dishonesty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service following a complaint from a Bacolod businessman that money was solicited from him during a building inspection by personnel from the OBO, City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu said on Thursday.
A complaint was filed against the inspector and engineer, whose names were withheld, before the CLO on Jan. 11, 2024, and following an investigation and due process Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez signed the decision in December recommending their dismissal, Secretary to Mayor Marty Go said.
The two filed a motion for reconsideration in January this year and the CLO came out with a decision last week, which was signed by the mayor, he added.
The decision upheld the dismissal of the OBO inspector, while the engineer from the City Engineer’s Office detailed at the OBO was suspended for nine months.
The order was effective upon service, Chiu said.
Chiu said the OBO inspector was dismissed from the service because CCTV footage showed him accepting the envelope containing the money, while the engineer was seen accompanying him.*