BACOLOD City – A regular employee of the Bacolod City Government is facing a possible administrative case after allegedly leaving a local bar without paying his bill and invoking his supposed connection with the City Legal Office (CLO) to intimidate the establishment’s employees.
Mayor Greg Gasataya issued a show cause order against the employee on July 15 after a complaint was filed before the Office of the City Mayor.
City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu said the complaint stemmed from an incident in the early hours of June 27, when the employee allegedly attempted to leave the establishment without paying for drinks and other services he had consumed.
According to the complaint, the employee allegedly grabbed one of the bar’s workers by the front of his shirt and forcibly pulled him toward the entrance after being confronted over the unpaid bill.
The complainant also alleged that the employee claimed to be connected with the CLO and used that purported affiliation to intimidate staff, threaten the closure of the establishment, and verbally berate employees in the presence of other customers.
The complaint further alleged that when the establishment’s owner arrived, the employee shouted at her, insisted the drinks should be free because of his alleged ties to the CLO, and repeated his threat to have the business shut down if his demands were not met.
Chiu said the incident was reported to the police and recorded in the blotter.
If proven, the allegations may constitute grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and other administrative offenses under the 2025 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service, Chiu said.
The employee, who is assigned to the CLO and serves as a member of the Business Permits and Licensing Office’s Joint Inspection Team, has been directed to submit a counter-affidavit or written explanation within five days from receipt of the show cause order.
Meanwhile, Gasataya warned all city government employees against using their positions to evade payment at business establishments.
“Pasensyahanay lang kita—we will not tolerate this,” the mayor said during Monday’s flag-raising ceremony attended by city officials and employees.
Gasataya said he ordered an investigation after receiving reports from business owners alleging that some city employees had refused to pay for food and beverages they had ordered.
“Our business owners are taxpayers who work hard to earn an honest living. They deserve to be protected, not exploited,” he said, adding that those found liable would face appropriate administrative sanctions.
Chiu also disclosed that the CLO is investigating another regular city government employee over a separate complaint involving similar allegations./PN
