ILOILO CITY—Four officials here are facing disciplinary actions for alleged irregularities in the P3.5-million chicken dispersal project the city had intended as livelihood project for poor families. Mayor Jose Espinosa III ordered city agriculturist Romulo Pangantihon, general services officer Joren Sartorio, supply officer Eduardo Vargas Jr. and city veterinarian Tomas Forteza Jr. to explain why they would not be held liable for violations of the Civil Service Act. Espinosa’s orders came after a fact-finding committee recommended that Pangantihon, Sartorio and Vargas be held liable for gross neglect of duty and Forteza for simple neglect of duty. The fact-finding committee noted that there were procedural lapses and legal obligations that the officials failed to comply with in the project. —NESTOR P. BURGOS JR.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer January 26, 2018 21:11 UTC