If two Office of the Building Official (OBO) employees are found guilty of extortion, they will be dismissed from the service, Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez said on Wednesday, January 24.
The Bacolod City Legal Office has issued notices to explain to the two OBO building inspectors identified in a complaint.
Benitez said the businessman who complained sent him a cellphone video of the alleged extortion attempt during a Mayor’s Permit renewal inspection.
They allegedly demanded P15,000 to expedite OBO clearance and eventually agreed to bring the amount down to P5,000, he said.
But instead of paying, the businessman reported the matter to the mayor.
Benitez urged others who may be victims of extortion attempts not to pay, and to instead report the culprits to the city government so action can be taken.*