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[av_heading heading=’NegOcc agri chief faces investigation’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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Friday, March 24, 2017
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BACOLOD City – Provincial Agriculturist Igmedio Tabianan of Negros Occidental is being investigated for alleged grave misconduct and malversation of public funds.
Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. ordered his 60-day preventive suspension.
A team under the Provincial Legal Office was tasked to investigate Tabianan.
There was “prima facie evidence for administrative offenses of grave misconduct/malversation of public funds … against you,” Marañon said in a memo, a copy of which was released to the press on Thursday.
Tabianan must be suspended because he “exercises authority over the witnesses and the entire Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), where other evidence, testimonial or documentary, are available,” said Marañon.
Tabianan was banned from the provincial capitol premises and any of its offices during the duration of his suspension, and from doing anything that will influence the witnesses and the proceeding.
“Witnesses, other testimonial and documentary evidence, as well as the proceeding itself [must] be protected from whatever form of influence from [Tabianan] to give due course to a fair and impartial investigation and hearing,” Marañon said.
The Commission on Audit (COA) issued a notice of disallowance against the OPA’s P299,000 purchase of fertilizers for farmers in Cauayan town on Jan. 10, 2013.
State auditors ordered Tabianan to return the amount for failing to comply with documentary requirements. Tabianan paid the amount in November last year.
But after that, the COA issued another notice of disallowance for the OPA’s P239,805 purchase of various vegetable seeds. (PNA)
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