THE Bacolod City Legal Office (CLO) is still waiting for the reply of City Agriculturist Goldwyn Nifras, who was charged with grave misconduct and preventively suspended by Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez for 60 days effective July 21.
City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting, Jr. said Monday, July 24, that Nifras was given five days to submit his reply to the complaint filed against him for an alleged unauthorized rental of the city’s tractor without the issuance of receipts.
“We are hopeful that Nifras will submit his reply within this week,” he said.
He added that Nifras was allegedly collecting P4,500 as rental for the tractor from the farmers where P2,500 was allegedly paid to the operator of the unit and P2,000 for the gasoline.
For his part, Nifras said in a radio interview on Friday, July 21, that he already received the suspension order, however, he denied the allegations.
He said that he will also file his answer on the said complaint, adding that the farmers paid the operator of the tractor and not for the rent of the unit.
The tractor was allegedly used by the members of the Highly-Urbanized City Agricultural and Fisheries Council.
Moreover, City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III said they will check the memorandum to determine who will temporarily replace the post of Nifras.
However, he said as part of the protocol, the vacant post will be directly supervised by the City Mayor’s Office or the City Administrator until someone will be appointed.
He added that Benitez is still evaluating the performance of all the department heads and for the possible implementation of the reshuffling.*