The Office of the Governor has issue a show cause order to the Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer (PDRRMO) to explain his alleged failure to liquidate P3 million in financial assistance to the Amity Public Safety Academy Inc. (APSA) and conflict of interest, Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. said Monday, December 5.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II issued the memorandum order to PDRRMO Zeaphard Gerhart Caelian to explain in writing or submit a counter-affidavit under oath why no criminal, civil and administrative cases should be filed against him.
Caelian has submitted his reply and denied any wrongdoing, Nellas said.
The show cause order was issued based on an investigation report on the unliquidated financial assistance for the Negros First Emergency Response Team (NFERT) amounting to P3 million that was donated to the APSA in 2017, Nellas said.
Caelian is a member of the Board of Directors of the APSA despite being the PDRRMO of the provincial government of Negros Occidental, Nellas pointed out.
The memorandum order said he directly or indirectly was receiving or benefiting from the APSA, in the guise of salary and allowances as one the members of its Board of Directors while simultaneously receiving a salary and allowances from the provincial government.
The memorandum cited Caelian’s involvement with the APSA as one of its Board of Directors by way of directly processing, participating, and/or benefiting from the still unliquidated provincial grant while simultaneously exercising his capacity as member of the PDRRM Council.
The P3 million was intended for the establishment of the NFERT, capacity building and the purchase of search and rescue equipment.
Nellas said they are verifying the reply of Caelian to determine if there is a need to issue a formal charge against him.
It is still in its initial stage, no formal charge or suspension has been issued against Caelian, he said.
The P3 million was taken from the 5 percent Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund of the provincial government before the term of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Nellas said.
Caelian begged off from giving a reply to the media on Monday.*