Bacolod employees probed on fake permits

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the City Legal Office are conducting separate investigations into the involvement of four city government employees in the release of fake business permits and alleged extortion of a local businessman.

Two employees from the City Treasurer’s Office and the Business Permits and Licensing Office were summoned by the NBI on Tuesday.

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez said he wants to find out who is behind the fake permits because a bigger syndicate might be involved.

Benitez said he has sought the NBI’s help as early as last year following complaints that fake business permits had been issued by the local government and that fixers were involved.

He said they are investigating some employees from the city government and also those who are no longer employed by the city.

Benitez added that he has sought the intervention from the NBI to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation.

“This development underscores the city’s commitment to upholding transparency and integrity in its administrative processes,” he said.

The city government has already taken steps by putting safety seals on public documents to prevent forgeries.

Assistant NBI agent in charge Jose Gabriel Jr. said that the employees being questioned are considered persons of interest and can be possible witnesses to the alleged crime.

Gabriel added that they were part of the signatories in the receipts, assessment, and confiscation of the fake business permits.

Gabriel said they have yet to establish the whereabouts or even identify the job order casual employee who assisted the business owner in the issuance of the fake business permit last year.

Meanwhile, two personnel of the Office of the Building Official (OBO) are being investigated following complaints for alleged extortion during a Mayor’s Permit renewal inspection.

It was alleged that these personnel demanded P5,000 to expedite the OBO clearance approval on Jan. 11, 2024.

Lawyer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr., city legal officer, will recommend the issuance of show-cause orders against two OBO inspectors.

Ting said these would also allow the mayor to order a preventive suspension against the concerned employees pending investigation.

On Tuesday, the CLO served the OBO inspectors a notice to explain following an extortion complaint alleging that they demanded on January 11 the amount of P5,000 to expedite clearance approval.

The next day, January 24, the two inspectors submitted their response.

They denied the accusation, saying that they were only doing their job in inspecting the establishment, Ting said.

However, Ting added that the business establishment that made the complaint has submitted surveillance camera footage showing the inspectors appearing to have received money.

The two suspects, identified as regular employees of the city hall, are facing charges for violating the Republic Act (RA) 3019, or the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” as well as RA 9485, or the “Anti-Red Tape Act.”

He said he has heard several complaints about the corruption within the OBO, but no one has filed a formal complaint until now.