2 provincial gov department heads placed under preventive suspension

Two department heads of the Negros Occidental provincial government have been placed under preventive suspension for 60 days while being investigated for separate administrative cases.

In a memorandum dated June 8, Provincial Alberto Nellas Jr. said Ellen Marie Jalandoni, recreation and welfare services officer V of Mambukal Resort, and Jose Percival Salado, provincial budget officer, have been suspended by the Office of the Governor in an order dated June 5.

“The above-mentioned persons are hereby prohibited to discharge the functions of their respective offices and enter the premises of the Provincial Capitol and any of its offices during the period of the preventive suspension,” Nellas said, citing Rule 7 of the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases.

He added that this is “to give due course to a fair and impartial investigation and hearing of the administrative cases”.

However, Nellas’ memorandum, which was addressed to all department and office heads, did not specify details on the cases being faced by Jalandoni and Salado which allegedly falls under the Local Government Code, which prescribes that total appropriations for Personal Services of an LGU for one fiscal year shall not exceed forty-five percent (45%) in the case of first to third-class provinces, cities, and municipalities.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said they acted on the complaints from the Commission on Audit (COA) and from the Internal Audit Division.

“We had to act on it. The investigation started in December in some cases. When the Covid-19 crisis happened, we stopped the process for humanitarian reasons,” he said.

Diaz said the provincial government proceeded with the administrative process as Negros Occidental is now under modified general community quarantine,

“The COA continues to write to us regarding the continuous violation of the province in terms of going beyond the 45 percent ceiling in the budget for Personal Services. All these things are prompted by the investigation of independent bodies, not initiated by the province,” he added.

Diaz said those placed under preventive suspension may opt to submit a position paper or undergo a formal hearing.

“As soon they manifest their option. Let’s say, if they opt to submit a position paper, there is no need to designate a hearing officer,” he added.*