
The Bacolod City Sangguniang Panlungsod on Wednesday, November 8, granted the request of Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez to hold in abeyance its investigation into alleged illegal and corrupt activities at the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO).
The mayor asked the SP to hold its investigation in abeyance while the City Legal Office conducts its own probe.
Bacolod Councilor Al Victor Espino had requested the SP to conduct the investigation while the BTAO was headed by PMaj. Junji Liba.
Benitez removed Liba as head of the BTAO on Nov. 1.
Former Negros Occidental Board Member Patrick Lacson is the current BTAO head.
The SP, on Wednesday, also approved a resolution authorizing lawyer Allyn Luv Z. Dignadice, designated officer-in-charge of the City Administrator’s Office, to act as alternate signatory of all documents and checks of various accounts at the depository banks under the name of the City Government of Bacolod.
Lawyer Pacifico Maghari III resigned as city administrator on Nov. 1.
The mayor said he will announce Maghari’s replacement on or before Nov. 15, but in the meantime designated Dignadice as OIC of the City Administrator’s Office.*