BACOLOD City — A regular employee of the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) has been placed under a 60-day preventive suspension after being formally charged with grave misconduct and alleged fixing in connection with the processing of an environmental permit.
Mayor Greg Gasataya signed the formal charge and order of preventive suspension on September 29, 2026 against the Environmental Management Specialist II, a Salary Grade 15 employee of BENRO.
The employee was charged with grave misconduct and fixing and/or participation or collusion in fixing under Republic Act 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act.
According to the order, preventive suspension was deemed necessary because the charges involve offenses that may warrant dismissal from the service and because the employee, by virtue of his position, could potentially influence witnesses or affect evidence related to the administrative proceedings.
The order emphasized that preventive suspension is not a penalty and does not constitute a finding of guilt. It is a precautionary measure intended to protect the integrity of the investigation and ensure that witnesses and evidence are not compromised.
The employee was ordered not to report for duty, exercise the functions of his office, access official BENRO records, or issue instructions to BENRO personnel concerning matters covered by the administrative case during the suspension period.
The case stemmed from allegations involving the processing of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) or Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC) for a resort establishment.
Based on the investigation, documentary evidence allegedly showed that sometime between August and September 2025, the employee transacted with the resort owner regarding the processing of the required environmental document.
City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chou said the employee allegedly represented that he could process or facilitate the ECC or CNC with the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in exchange for P10,000.
Records reportedly showed that the amount was digitally transferred to the employee’s privately owned electronic wallet on September 3, 2025. The transaction reference number was included in the documentary evidence cited in the administrative case.
The employee was previously issued a show-cause order by the mayor in September, directing him to explain why he should not be administratively charged over the alleged fixing transaction, grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and other related offenses.
Under the 2025 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service, preventive suspension may be imposed in cases involving grave misconduct or other offenses punishable by dismissal when the respondent’s continued presence could potentially influence witnesses or affect evidence.
For local government employees, preventive suspension may be imposed for a maximum of 60 days under the applicable civil service rules and the Local Government Code.
The order stated that the employee’s preventive suspension is effective immediately upon receipt and may be lifted earlier by competent authority.
It also stressed that the measure is without prejudice to the employee’s right to due process and does not constitute a prejudgment of his administrative liability./PN
