THE chief of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) resigned from his post two weeks after he was ordered suspended for 60 days.
Provincial Agriculturist Igmedio Tabianan is being investigated for alleged administrative offenses of grave misconduct and malversation of public funds.
In his resignation letter addressed to Marañon dated March 29, Tabianan thanked the governor for “all the support, assistance and help” he extended to him, his family, and the OPA.
He cited “personal reasons,” adding that he also wants to give more time to his family.
“It may be time to concentrate on a private life and start a family business in order for me to earn a living,” Tabianan said in his resignation letter.
He added: “I do accept, I am not prepared of this decision. I don’t know what will this bring. I don’t even know if I can handle and hurdle the existing difficult and hard problems I am facing now and those challenges that are coming ahead.”
Tabianan said he will pray for help, assistance, considerations, and understanding.
Marañon, in the memorandum order dated March 21, said there was “prima facie” on the administrative offenses committed by Tabianan after careful evaluation of the allegations and evidence, hence, a preventive suspension is warranted as he exercises authority over the witnesses and the OPA.
Among the violations Tabianan allegedly committed was that he allowed his close subordinate at OPA, Ariel Tuvilla, to take half of the salary of job order employee Kenneth Abaring for the months of February to May in 2016.
Last year, the Commission on Audit issued two notices of disallowance to Tabianan for the P299,000 amount spent for the fertilizer project in 2013 and the P239,805.80 for the various vegetable seeds program in 2014.
Tabianan had already settled the first disallowed amount.
Economic Enterprise Development Department Head Japhet Masculino had replaced Tabianan on a concurrent capacity.
Provincial Legal Officer Jose Maria Valencia said they will terminate the investigation on Tabianan following his resignation.
He added that Tabianan submitted a reply, denying all the allegations.