BACOLOD City — The City Legal Office (CLO) has launched an investigation into the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) following reports that a private individual became involved in processing the release of salaries for job order (JO) casual workers in the city government.
On the morning of October 30, City Legal Officer Atty. Karol Joseph Chiu received information that a private person was handling the payroll of Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) casual workers.
“Someone came to the CLO (City Legal Office) and reported that a private person was holding the city payroll,” Atty. Chiu said.
Together with City Administrator Atty. Mark Mayo, Chiu immediately went to CTO head Jose Maria Gecosala to seek clarification regarding the incident. Upon leaving the office and proceeding to the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) lobby, the officials discovered a woman — whose name is being withheld — holding the payroll, which contained the signatures of the listed workers.
When asked by the city treasurer about her actions, the woman claimed she was simply assisting Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) personnel in helping the JO workers sign the payroll.
Chiu emphasized that the city does not require the involvement of private individuals in salary processing, as the CTO has assigned employees trained to handle these tasks.
The incident caused a brief halt in the salary release, lasting several minutes. Chiu explained that the city employs an automated teller machine (ATM) system for releasing JO salaries, which was temporarily suspended due to administrative transition and pending completion of ATM processing by the CTO.
“This ATM system has been the standard practice since the previous administration of former Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, now congressman of the Lone District,” Chiu said.
The CLO is currently gathering all relevant documentation and has directed the CTO to submit a formal incident report on the matter./PN
