BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The retirement of Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino from government service has been approved by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said yesterday.
Masculino, in his letter to Lacson, said that he had decided to retire effective July 1, after 39 years of service.
His retirement came in the wake of a show-cause order issued to him by the Provincial Legal Office, who asked him to explain the alleged delay in the payment of catering services by the OPA since 2018, amounting to P1 million.
Masculino thanked Lacson for giving him the opportunity to serve under his administration, as well as the farmers and fisherfolk of Negros.
Diaz said that Masculino is willing to pay the P1 million in unpaid catering service from his retirement benefits.
He added that Lacson has yet to choose the replacement of Masculino as OPA head, although several recommendations have already been forwarded for his approval. But Diaz said the province will have a new OPA chief by July 1.*
