“I pray that I get the justice I deserve,” suspended Negros Occidental provincial tourism officer Cheryl Decena said on Thursday, Jan. 22.
Decena has filed an appeal to her six-month suspension without pay before the Civil Service Commission after the Provincial Legal Office denied her motion for reconsideration.
“It’s unfortunate that they choose to not consider all the evidence we have been presenting since the very start,” she said.
“The case against us was based on a preliminary report , they have refused to furnish us with a copy of the final report,” she said.
“In fact, they have even threatened me with another case,” she added.
“I have filed my Appeal with the CSC and pray that I get the justice I deserve,” Decena said.
Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. said the motion for reconsideration was denied because they have not seen any new evidence presented that would be a reason to overturn the decision in the simple neglect of duty case.
Decena, former officer-in-charge (OIC) of the provincial government-owned Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary, and four disbursing officers of the resort were suspended in October last year.
“They were found administratively liable for slight neglect of duty related to irregularities and delays in the remittances of cash advances, resulting in mismanagement and a P3.5 million loss to Mambukal for calendar year 2023,” Nellas had said.
Decena has denied any wrongdoing.*