• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Former Capitol employee Herminigildo Basilio cried foul over his dismissal from the government service, resulting from the 789 bags of fertilizers that went missing at the Rice Processing Center managed by the provincial government of Negros Occidental, in Brgy. Tabunan, Bago City, claiming that he was made as a scapegoat on the issue.
In a statement, Basilio, who used to be assigned at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), said “I strongly decry my dismissal from service for grave charges without any evidentiary support.”
Basilio stressed that he thoroughly explained his side in his reply to the Show Cause order issued him, supported with documentary evidence, and provided the names of persons who should be included in the investigation, “if such was made to uncover the truth.”
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson approved the recommendation of Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Alberto Nellas Jr. to dismiss Basilio from government service for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and malversation of public funds or property.
His dismissal took effect August 14.
For me to be made the scapegoat and dismissed, after more than a decade of loyal service to the provincial, due to 789 bags of fertilizers that allegedly went missing on October 18, 2022, is simply devastating for and my family, and shows that injustice prevails at the halls of the Provincial Capitol, Basilio further stressed.
“I am now left with no recourse to appeal my dismissal before an impartial authority,” he said.
Due to the missing fertilizers, the Contract of Service employment of Joy Cardinal, who was also assigned at the RPC with Basilio, was earlier terminated by the provincial government.
PLO investigations showed that Basilio received the delivery of fertilizers at past 9 p.m., and without any coordination with the provincial government of Negros Occidental, which according to Nellas is “highly irregular and runs counter not only to Civil Service rules, but also to OPA Rice Processing Center Operating Manual of 2022.”
It added that Basilio failed to present any authorization from the Provincial Agriculturist allowing the delivery of fertilizers to RPC past office hours.
The investigation on the missing fertilizers also prompted the resignation of Provincial Agriculturist Edmundo Raul Causing and a division chief of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, allegedly for health reasons.
In his issued statement, Basilio said he was no longer in charge of the RPC for more than a year when the 789 bags of fertilizers allegedly went missing, stressing also that he does not have the key to the RPC warehouse.
Basilio also pointed out that he only followed the instructions of his division chief, Alnel “Potchie” Taba, to facilitate the receiving of 1,920 bags of fertilizers from Juantong Agri-Ventures around 3 p.m. on July 4 last year.
He added the fertilizers were completely unloaded to the warehouse, acknowledged by the watchman/guard on duty, and recorded in their logbook.
Nellas confirmed that the immediate superior of Basilio had already resigned, citing personal reasons.*
