Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez on Tuesday, August 9, said he ordered the City Human Resource Office to investigate the employees who allegedly took part in a “drinking spree” with personnel from the Office of the Negros Occidental Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) on July 15.
He said they have already discussed the matter with the concerned employees from the Victorias Agriculture Office to get their side and maintain impartiality.
“We have also asked our HR to look into the matter…. We do not tolerate unprofessional acts especially during official business,” Benitez said.
The Provincial Legal Office has issued show cause orders to five employees of the OPA for allegedly taking part in a “drinking session” in Victorias after attending a meeting with personnel of the city agriculture office and delaying the return of a provincial government vehicle to Bacolod City on July 15.
A formal complaint for misuse of government property and grave misconduct was filed against the five.
The complainant, a driver, claimed that he waited for the respondents until 8 p.m. but was later informed that they were at a restaurant allegedly having a drinking session.
The senior OPA employee also allegedly uttered bad words at the driver when he informed them that he needed to return to Bacolod.*