Mayor Greg Gastaya has issued a Show Cause Order against a male regular employee of the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) following allegations of illegal and unrecorded collection of amusement taxes from two bars in Bacolod City.
The order that was served on Tuesday, July 21, stems from sworn affidavits submitted by owners and managers of two local bars detailing unauthorized collections totaling ₱8,500.
The CTO employee allegedly solicited funds on multiple occasions under the guise of official tax collection.
In the first incident between December 2025 and January 2026, the employee allegedly visited an establishment on two separate dates, claiming authorization from the City Treasurer’s Office and collecting ₱2,500 on each visit while failing to issue official receipts.
In a second incident in December 2025, the employee allegedly showed an Executive Order signed by Mayor Gasataya to collect an initial ₱1,500 from another establishment without providing an assessment slip or receipt, and later returning to collect an additional ₱2,000 while claiming the receipt was “to follow”.
If substantiated, the employee’s actions may constitute grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and violation of office rules, as the acts involve unauthorized receipt of public funds, failure to issue official receipts, and possible misrepresentation of official authority. the show cause order said.
The mayor directed the employee to submit a verified, written explanation under oath within five calendar days of receiving the order, specifically addressing whether the visits occurred, the legal basis for collecting cash on-site, why official receipts were withheld, and proof of proper turnover to the City Treasury.
Failure to respond within the deadline will be treated as a waiver of the right to explain, leading to the evaluation of the case based strictly on existing evidence, though the Mayor’s Office emphasized that the preliminary order does not yet constitute a final finding of guilt.*
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