Mayor Greg Gasataya issued show-cause orders and relieved four personnel of the Supply and Property Section of the City Engineer’s Office on Monday, Sept. 8, following the discovery of over 4,786 bags of unusable cement worth P1.1 million at the CEO storage facilities on Saturday.
The mayor also issued a notice to explain to OIC City Engineer Loben Rafael Ceballos and Administrative Officer 4 Jennifer P. Pomperada, City Legal Officer Joseph Karol Chiu said.
Issued show-cause orders were CEO Supply Officer III Alexander Apoyon, Supply Officer II Gilbert C. Suguitan, Storekeeper II Shalmar S. Sombito, and Storekeeper II Greg Luna, Chiu added.
Gasataya said there will be an overhaul of the CEO Supply and Property Section with a new team taking over.
The cement that can still be used at the CEO warehouse within the Bacolod City College compound and at a facility in Brgy. Alijis will be moved to a rented warehouse, he said.
The mayor said the Disposal Committee of the city government will be convened to determine the legal way of disposing the hardened cement.
Meanwhile, Ceballos has been given 24 hours to submit a report on the status of all projects being implemented by the CEO, Gasataya said.
The mayor said he has been receiving reports that projects dating back to 2022 and earlier have not been completed by the CEO.
“We don’t want to pinpoint, we will follow where the evidence will lead us,” and take proper legal action, he said.
Gasataya also said his relationship with Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez remains intact, contrary to the insinuations of those who are trying to cause intrigue in their working relationship following the discovery of the hardened cement.*