• THERESA MAE DULMAN
An assistant department head of the Bacolod City General Services Office (GSO) has been placed under a 60-day preventive suspension effective immediately, following allegations of mass falsification of official documents.
The suspension is tied to an administrative case involving the alleged mass falsification of payslips and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) loan documents concerning 32 GSO personnel.
City Legal Officer Atty. Karol Joseph Chiu confirmed that Mayor Greg Gasataya has ordered the filing of formal charges against the unidentified assistant, citing 32 counts of administrative cases.
It includes serious dishonesty, falsification of official documents, serious misconduct, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The administrative case is based on an incident report, certified payslips and GSIS loan documents, and an investigation report from the City Legal Office.
The probe reportedly shows strong prima facie evidence that the documents, specifically the questioned payslips and loan application forms, were materially inconsistent with the official MITCS payroll records.
These documents allegedly provided untruthful payroll data, which the City Government and the GSIS relies upon when processing loans.
Chiu also stated that formal charges will be issued against the 32 regular GSO employees who availed of the loans using the allegedly falsified documents.
Gasataya said that while there is no issue with employees applying for loans, the process must be done properly and legally.
Chiu said that the preventive suspension is a precautionary measure and not a penalty.
During the sixty-day period, the assistant head is prohibited from reporting to the GSO and performing any official duties, and is restrained from contacting potential witnesses or personnel involved.*
