Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has formally charged two employees of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and malversation of public funds and preventively suspended them for 60 days.
The administrative case was lodged against Joy P. Cardinal and Herminigildo A. Basilio, who both hold Agriculturist I positions at the OPA, Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. said Wednesday, June 7.
The formal charge states that the two, who were in charge of the provincial government’s Rice Processing Center warehouse in Bago City, received 2,000 bags of fertilizer from the Department of Agriculture for distribution to local government units of Negros Occidental.
On October 18, 2022 Municipality of Cauayan representatives reported that they were not able to withdraw the fertilizer from the RPC since there was no more left.
A subsequent inventory revealed that 789 bags of fertilizer valued at P2,367,000 went missing while Cardinal and Basilio were in charge of the warehouse, the formal charge said.
The two were directed to answer the charge in writing, under oath, within three days from receipt and to indicate whether they are opting for a formal investigation.
Failure to answer will be considered a waiver to submit their replies and the case will be decided based on available records.
Nellas said the preventive suspension against Basilio was served on June 2. They are still looking for Cardinal who is on leave, he said.
Basilio is a regular provincial government employee. Cardinal is a casual employee so her contract may not be renewed in July, he added.*