The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed a revenue collection clerk 1 of the Negros Occidental Provincial Treasurer’s Office from public service after finding her guilty of gross dishonesty for using public funds for personal needs.

The decision dismissing Leovigilda Petareal approved by then Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Mark Jalandoni on March 9 was served by the Provincial Legal Office yesterday, PLO chief Jose Ma. Valencia confirmed.

The Ombudsman, aside from dismissing Petareal, also cancelled her eligibility, forfeited her retirement benefits and perpetually disqualified her from employment in the government service.

“My conscience is clear.”

That was how Silay City Mayor Jose Montelibano reacted to the recommendation of the Ombudsman to file charges for the complex crime of Malversation of Public Funds through Falsification of Public Document against him, and three other employees of Silay City for the allegedly fictitious emergency purchase of 123 sacks of rice in 2007.

While he has yet to receive a copy of the alleged Ombudsman decision, Montelibano said he has nothing to fear, and he is ready to face all the complaints against him.

He, however, pointed out that the recommendation of Ombudsman does not mean that he is already guilty.

A Korean Company is putting up a solar farm on a 71-hectare property in Brgy. Sto. Niño, in E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental to help improve the power supply in the province.

Youil Renewable Energy Corporation regional manager Gregory Pliny Lofamia yesterday said they can put up a 40 MW solar plant if they maximize the use of the land area, which he believes is more than the requirement of the municipality.

Lofamia said he will present the project to the Sangguniang Bayan of E.B. Magalona on Wednesday. During their initial talks, E.B. Magalona Mayor David Lacson expressed his support for the project, he said.