Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson confirmed on Monday, June 10, that he has appointed Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. as concurrent acting provincial administrator.
Nellas was appointed to the post while Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz serves his six-month suspension.
The Ombudsman suspended Diaz and Attorney 4 Chery Sheil Valenzuela, Bids and Awards Committee secretary, for six months without pay for engaging in the private practice of law that was “in conflict of interest” with their provincial government jobs.
Diaz denied they acted in conflict of interest and has filed a motion for reconsideration.
Lacson and Nellas are hoping the Ombudsman reverses the suspension order against Diaz so he can return sooner.
Diaz and Valenzuela asked permission to serve their six-month suspensions and “I gave in to their request if only to show respect to the Ombudsman”, Lacson said.
This, however, is without prejudice to the MR they filed, he added.
Meanwhile, Lacson said the provincial government will continue to operate as usual.
“We do not have individuals, we have a system in place. I am very confident we will continue to function well because of the system that has already been in place,” Lacson said.*