BACOLOD City — Two regular employees of the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) have been ordered to explain alleged irregularities that could lead to administrative charges, as the city government intensifies its campaign for good governance and accountability.
The City Legal Office (CLO) served separate show-cause orders on September 1, directing the two employees to explain why they should not face administrative charges over alleged acts committed in connection with their duties as city government employees.
One of the orders, issued by Mayor Greg Gasataya, was over an alleged conflict of interest involving the employee’s son and transactions between the city government and IPM-Construction and Development Corp. (IPM-CDC), the city’s former garbage contractor.
The employee was directed to explain why she should not be administratively charged with alleged grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, having a direct or indirect financial or material interest in a transaction, and violation of civil service laws and rules of a serious nature.
City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu said the allegations stemmed from a fact-finding investigation report submitted to his office concerning the alleged conflict of interest.
Based on the show-cause order, the employee was asked to explain why she should not be deemed to have known, or at least had reason to know, of the alleged presence, participation, representation or involvement of her son in IPM-CDC-related activities, transactions, meetings, presentations, coordination and contract implementation matters from sometime in 2023 until June 30, 2025.
The order said the allegations were supported by sworn statements and other documents gathered during the preliminary fact-finding investigation.
Chiu stressed that the show-cause order provides the employee an opportunity to answer the allegations and present her side before the city government determines whether further administrative proceedings are warranted.
The second show-cause order involved another regular employee with Salary Grade 15.
Chiu said documentary evidence gathered during the investigation allegedly showed that sometime between August and September 2025, the employee transacted with the owner of a resort regarding the processing of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) or Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC) for the establishment.
According to Chiu, the employee allegedly represented that he could process or facilitate the required ECC or CNC with the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in exchange for P10,000.
Chiu said records allegedly showed that the P10,000 was digitally transferred to the employee on September 3, 2025, with the transaction reference number included in the documentary evidence.
Gasataya directed the employee to explain why he should not be administratively charged for alleged fixing, grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and other related offenses.
The two employees were given five days from receipt of their respective show-cause orders to submit their written explanations.
Chiu said the issuance of the show-cause orders reflects Gasataya’s commitment to his good-governance campaign and his directive to address reported irregularities within city government offices.
He said the mayor is giving close attention to reported irregularities, emphasizing the administration’s efforts to promote accountability among public employees.
The issuance of the show-cause orders, however, does not establish the administrative liability of either employee.
Both employees are entitled to submit their explanations and present evidence in their defense before the city government determines whether appropriate administrative action should be taken./PN
