BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Eighteen employees of the provincial government of Negros Occidental are currently in hot water after being issued with show cause orders by the Provincial Legal Office, for non-compliance in the submission of trip tickets and uncalled for behavior.
Of the 18 employees assigned at the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division, 13 are drivers, three administrative aides, one Special Operations Officer and a utility worker.
Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Alberto Nellas Jr. yesterday said that the issuance of show cause orders is in line with the improvement of delivery of services and for the accountability of provincial government employees.
Nellas said that almost all respondents have already given their answers, and they are now in the process of resolving the evidence presented to determine whether or not they will be formally charged with administrative offenses.
Based on initial investigations, Nellas said that drivers did not follow the normal process of submitting trip tickets before conducting official travel.
So there is a huge irregularity with regards to their travel, since we are not aware, if indeed it happens, he said.
Trip tickets were submitted more than a month after the alleged travel had taken place, Nellas added.
He also said that they are investigating the unruly behavior of some PDMPD employees who were not performing their duties, while others threatened colleagues.
They should be disciplined in order to maintain order in that division, Nellas said, adding that they will be reviewing the PDMPD organizational structure, considering the substantial number of erring personnel.
The PLO also started the hearing of charges against five our personnel of the Office of the Provincial Agriculture, who were slapped with two-month preventive suspensions for grave misconduct.
OPA employees, including a division head, are also in hot water for allegedly going on a drinking session while on official travel in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, two months ago.*
