• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Alberto Nellas yesterday said that his office cannot conduct a “moto propio” investigation into the alleged sexual harassment reportedly perpetrated by a Capitol employee.
“It’s a personal act. So a complaint is needed,” Nellas said.
Allegations of sexual harassment were reported, involving a high ranking employee of the Negros Occidental provincial government, with the complainant being a supplier of the provincial government.
There were also reports of previous misbehavior committed by the same Capitol employee, however, no complaints were filed against him.
Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz earlier said that his office has not received any complaint, which also re-echoed by Nellas yesterday.
If a complaint is filed, Diaz said they will investigate the claims, stressing that the provincial government has no “sacred cows.”
The incident happened during the recent Panaad sa Negros Festival, where the suspect was allegedly drunk.
Nellas said that the Committee on Decorum and Investigation (CODI), chaired Liberty Alarcon, has jurisdiction over sexual harassment cases, as mandated under Civil Service Commission rules.*