BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Capitol czar Rayfrando Diaz II said a division head of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) who was one of six employees involved in the controversial drinking spree in Victorias City has submitted a reply as of today, 29 July 2022.
The incident, however, is not the first to happen although Diaz did not elaborate if these were the same offenders or under the same office.
He did call this one more serious than the rest.
“It’s an insult to refuse an offer,” Diaz quoted part of the reply submitted by the department head and engineer who also laid out details of the 15 July official trip to Victorias City.
Diaz said based on the engineer’s reply, the meeting with the Victorias City Agriculture Staff ended around 4:30pm based on the record of the Victorias Mayor’s Office of the city.
The group was then invited to drink alcohol by the city agriculturist.
The engineer said they felt obliged since it would be an insult to turn it down.
The driver, Lemuel Gravino, however, was left out and waited clueless.
“He was left without any clue about what they were doing, and all the while he was waiting, they never invited him to dine with them even if it was only for a short amount of time,” Diaz said.
The engineer also denied claims by Mario Pequit Pequit, another Capitol employee, that someone among the six badmouthed him.
The Provincial Administrator is still awaiting for the explanation of the other five employees which will then be forwarded to lawyer Alberto Nellas Jr., the Provincial Legal Officer for evaluation whether they will be charged for the incident or dismissed.
They may be charged for unlawful and unauthorized use of the government property beyond the call of official duty.
“It’s not wrong to enjoy, but when government property is used, it is prohibited,” Diaz said.
