‘Explain in proper venue, not in media’ – Gov. Lacson

“Explain in the proper venue, not in the media.”

This is the advice of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson to Herminigildo Basilio, a dismissed employee of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) linked to the missing 789 sacks of fertilizers at the warehouse of the Rice Processing Center.

“Instead of explaining to the media, he should explain it to the proper venue,” Lacson said.

The governor said Basilio can always file a motion for reconsideration with the Civil Service Commission.

Asked if the OPA division head who was pointed by Basilio as the one who ordered him to accept the delivery of the fertilizer, Lacson said, “if you notice that almost all the cases are administrative. We don’t really want to file criminal cases against an individual.”

As to the resigned OPA division head, Lacson said he “is not within the reach anymore of the province”

Basilio, in a statement, claimed he was made a “scapegoat” over the missing sacks of fertilizer at the Rice Processing Center (RPC) in Brgy. Tabunan, Bago City.

“I strongly decry my dismissal from service for grave charges without any evidentiary support,” he said.

Basilio was a regular employee at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) and detailed at the RPC.

He said that he thoroughly explained his side, supported with documentary evidence, in his reply to the show-cause order issued to him.

Basilio said he also provided the names of persons who should be included in the investigation, “if such was made to uncover the truth”.

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 Aug. 14.

Earlier, the contract of service employment of Joy Cardinal, likewise assigned at the RPC, with Basilio, was also terminated by the provincial government over the missing fertilizer.

PLO investigations showed that Basilio received the delivery of fertilizer at past 9 p.m. 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 the 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 fertilizer to the RPC past office hours.

Lacson admitted that OPA is a “problematic office.”

We are trying to correct the system at the OPA and take action on reports against its employees, he added.* (EYA)