Bacolod City – The provincial government of Negros Occidental assured its full support, if an investigation is to be conducted by the Department of Agriculture Western Visayas regional office on the 789 missing bags of fertilizers valued at P2.3 million.
Two Capitol employees assigned at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist are under investigation for the missing fertilizers. One of the respondents, a casual employee, was already fired from her job.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said that the only “hard evidence points to two persons, otherwise it’s all innuendo.”
“We always decide based on evidence presented,” Lacson stressed.
He also reiterated that he wants to know the details of the delivery, who are the persons involved, the receiver, and releasing.
About 4,000 sacks of fertilizer was stored by the DA regional office at the Capitol warehouse in Brgy. Tabunan, Bago City, for distribution to farmers affected by Typhoon Odette in Negros Occidental.
On the other hand, Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas also assured his full cooperation, if DA proceeds with the probe. He however said that they have substantial evidence against the two OPA employees.
Nellas said that their decision to charge the OPA employees is based on evidence that shows that they “are not innocent as they claimed.”
If they have any basis that they are innocent, we will look into it also, and verify their data, he also said.
While a name of a senior employee was mentioned in the affidavits of the employees, Nellas said “it lacks supporting statements and evidence to support their claims.”
Earlier, Engr. Albert Barrogo, DA regional technical director for operations and extensions, said they have referred the matter to their legal office to investigate.
Barrogo urged the Provincial Legal Office, which conducted an investigation into the incident, “to dig deeper to know who the real culprits behind the missing fertilizers are, and not the innocent ones.” (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)