A stenographic reporter of the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod was meted the penalty of six months suspension without pay for neglect in the performance of duty involving an administrative case filed against her by the late SP Secretary Nilo Alejandrino.

Alejandrino had filed an administrative complaint for dishonesty, falsification of official documents and gross neglect of duty before the Office of the Vice Mayor against Conchita Castillo, who allegedly altered the minutes of the May 25, 2011 session.

Acting Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson yesterday said the memorandum was received by Castillo yesterday and she still has a chance to file a motion for reconsideration.

In January 2012 the investigating committee had recommended that a formal charge for neglect in the performance of duty be filed against Castillo.

Sayson, as disciplining authority, had ordered Castillo on Dec. 13, 2011to file her answer under oath to the charges within three days from receipt of the order, and thereafter, a formal investigation of the case will proceed.

In his complaint-affidavit, Alejandrino said he discovered during the SP 47th session, that Correspondence No. 011-612 was merely “accepted” by the chairman of the Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government and that no resolution whatsoever was passed granting authority to the mayor to sign the subdivision agreement.

Correspondence No. 011-612 involves the request of the mayor for authority to sign the proposed agreement of subdivision between the City of Bacolod and Ceres Homeowners Association, Inc.

Alejandrino then issued Castillo a memorandum requiring her to explain in writing the circumstances pertaining to Correspondence No. 011-612, after finding out later that SP Resolution No. 509, Series of 2011, which she prepared and finalized, was allegedly a spurious one.

On July 15, 2011, Castillo submitted her reply to the memorandum issued by Alejandrino, stating that it was an “honest mistake.”

An Ad Hoc Committee created on July 20 to conduct a fact-finding investigation on the alleged tampering/alteration of the minutes committed by Castillo, found prima facie evidence of certain violations she committed, both administrative and criminal in nature, and recommended that a formal notarized complaint be filed against her with the Office of the Vice Mayor.

On October 28, 2011 an investigating committee was created to investigate the complaint filed against Castillo, composed of Councilors Dindo Ramos, Homer Bais and Roberto Rojas.

The committee recommended that a formal charge for neglect in the performance of duty be filed against Castillo and that the Disciplining Authority may preventively suspend her in order to preserve the records of the case and that the outcome of the investigation may not be influence.*CGS

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