THREE engineers of the City Government have been formally charged administratively for gross neglect of duty.
Named respondents to the administrative charge filed on July 5 by Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar are Engineers Romeo Hiso, Santiago Solis Jr., and Sherwin Alan Rabago, all of the City Engineer’s Office.
The charges against the three stemmed from the June 24 incident where at least nine students were injured when the covered court of the Sinubong National High School collapsed.
Salazar, in separate administrative orders, placed the three respondent-engineers under 60 days preventive suspension effective upon service of the formal charge.
Salazar was prompted to make the formal charge following the conduct of a preliminary investigation found that a prima facie case of gross neglect of duty exists against the three engineers.
Salazar said the local government has an existing City Grievance Committee, a collegial body organized to specifically handle administrative charges against city officials and employees.
She said the three engineers are required to answer “in writing and under oath,” the charges against them within 10 days from receipt of the formal charge otherwise they be considered to have waived their right.
In their answers, Salazar said the engineers are to indicate whether or not they “elect a formal investigation” of the charges against them.
She said they are also entitled to the services of an individual counsel of their choice during the probe. (SunStar Philippines)