SUSPENDED. The Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator’s Office at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City. Effective Monday (June 10, 2024), Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson designated Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. as the acting provincial administrator in a concurrent capacity after Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II was suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for six months for conflict of interest when he engaged in private law practice. (PNA Bacolod photo)
BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II and Executive Assistant II Chery Sheil Valenzuela stopped reporting to their respective offices starting June 7, 2024 after they were suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for six months for conflict of interest when they engaged in private law practice.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he has designated Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas Jr. as the acting provincial administrator in a concurrent capacity, effective Monday.
Diaz, along with Valenzuela, the secretary of the Bids and Awards Committee, were found guilty of violating Section 7, paragraph b (2) of the Republic Act (RA) 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
In an interview, the governor said that both Capitol executives have “asked permission” to serve the six-month suspension without the need for an order from the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
“I gave in to their request to show respect to the Ombudsman, without prejudice to the motion for reconsideration they are filing,” he added.
Lacson said he is confident that the provincial government would be able to function well even with the absence of Diaz because they have an existing system of governance.
“We don’t have individuals; we have a system in place,” he added.
Diaz received the 20-page decision dated Nov.10, 2023, signed by Leilani Tagulao-Marquez, graft investigation and prosecution officer III, and approved by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on April 1, 2024, last June 3.
The complaint, filed by former Attorney IV Roxenne Sumanting of the Provincial Legal Office on June 20, 2022, stemmed from the alleged failure of the respondents to provide legal assistance or representation to the Municipality of Binalbagan on the expropriation cases filed before the Regional Trial Court in Himamaylan City.
It also cited a conflict of interest for appearing as counsels for JLL Agriculture and Development, one of the defendants in the expropriation case, while being an incumbent provincial administrator and executive assistant II.
Diaz and Valenzuela admitted engaging in private practice when they represented JLL, claiming that they were granted authority by Lacson, according to the Ombudsman ruling.
However, the Ombudsman decision said, “but appearing as counsel for JLL undeniably came in conflict with Diaz and Valenzuela’s obligations as officials of the provincial government of Negros Occidental." (PNA)
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