BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Victorias City Agriculture Office could be dragged into the drinking binge controversy involving several personnel of the Negros Occidental capitol’s Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA).
Mayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez ordered the city government’s Human Resources (HR) office to investigate the city’s agriculture office personnel.
“We do not tolerate unprofessional acts especially during official business,” Benitez said.
Based on the report released by the Negros Occidental Provincial Legal Office (PLO), on July 15 five OPA personnel went to Victorias City for an official trip.
The driver of the provincial government-owned vehicle waited until 8 p.m. and later discovered that the OPA personnel, which also included a senior employee, engaged in a drinking binge with the Victorias City Agriculture Office personnel in a restaurant.
The driver confronted the OPA personnel informing them that they needed to return to Bacolod City, but the OPA senior employee threw expletives at the driver.
The driver later filed a complaint against the five OPA employees with the PLO.
Benitez said he already discussed with the concerned individuals from the City Agriculture Office to know their side and to maintain impartiality.
“Victorias City has an Administrative Investigation Committee composed of me, the City Administrator, the City Legal, and the HR Officer created by virtue of Executive Order No. 7,” he pointed out./PN
