BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A show-cause order has been issued against Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino by the Provincial Legal Office for the alleged delay in the payment for catering services by the Office of the Provincial Agriculture, amounting to P1 million.
PLO head Alberto Nellas Jr. said yesterday that the issuance of the show-cause against Masculino stemmed from the demand of a catering services company that was to be paid in 2018 yet.
Nellas said that Masculino already submitted his explanations, but the details have not been divulged as of this time, “for confidentiality purposes”.
“We are still assessing if there would be formal charges or not,” he added, stressing that the show-cause order is not an administrative case.
Nellas raised the possibility that the total amount may have accumulated.
Meanwhile, Nellas said that the formal investigation report on the administrative cases of former provincial budget officer Jose Percival Salado Jr. and Ma. Mina Pellejo, former head of the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Care Program, had already been terminated.
“We are now finalizing the findings to be forwarded to the Office of the Governor for decision,” he added.
Considering that the cases were highly technical in nature since those involved financial matters, Nellas said they had to consult experts in budget and audit.
But the formal investigation report will come out and will be assessed by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, who will render his decision, he added. Asked if the decision of Lacson would be based on their recommendations, Nellas replied, “Not necessarily, but we will give our recommendation. The final say still lies with the governor.”*
