By Teresa D. Ellera
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has not yet answered the letter of the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental as to why they made a delivery of fertilizers after office hours already, Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas said on Wednesday, September 9.
Part of the said fertilizers were the 789 sacks that were found missing at the Provincial Rice Processing Plant in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City.
Nellas said the province has already answered the letter of DA about what happened to the missing fertilizers, but the agency did not answer why the delivery was made after office hours, which is against the operating manual of the Processing Center.
He explained that the province's role in the fertilizer project was only to distribute it to the local government units.
Nellas also said that they had already received a copy of the appeal of Herminigildo Basilio, Agriculturist I under the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, who was dismissed for his accountability over the missing fertilizers.
He explained that they have substantial evidence based on records and receipts that Basilio was the one who received the fertilizers at the processing center.
He said that the former department head, who was pointed out and alleged by Basilio to have ordered him to take his actions, had already resigned from the province and that he had no knowledge about the said delivery done after office hours.
"His name was brought out after he resigned," Nellas said.
Basilio made his appeal to the CSC after he decried injustice against him.
"I strongly decry my dismissal from service for grave charges without any evidentiary support," Basilio said.
"I thoroughly explained my side through my reply to the show cause order supported with documentary evidence, as well as my answer to the formal charge, which was made under oath, providing the names of persons who should have been included in the investigation, if such was made to uncover the truth," Basilio stated in his statement.
"I am now left with no recourse but to appeal my dismissal before an impartial authority," Basilio further said.*