Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday ordered the suspension for three months without pay of two employees of the Bacolod City Engineer's Office after they were found culpable for alleged dishonesty in the implementation of a project in Barangay 15, Bacolod City.

Ordered suspended were project engineer Joel Locsin and project foreman Raymundo Dumdum. But because they had already served the one month preventive suspension meted them, they only have to serve two months suspension.

The two had allegedly hired 15 persons, who included the name of "Francisco Bajador," who was said to have died on Feb. 12, 2005 yet, among those supposed to work on the rehabilitation, dredging and declogging of the Maupay Creek in Brgy. 15 from July to August 2005.

The Mayor based his decision on the memorandum of City Legal Officer Allan Zamora dated Feb. 10 that recommended the suspension of Locsin and Dumdum. Zamora's recommendation, in turn, was based on the findings of Gliceria Caduhada, assistant City Legal Officer, and Bartolome Malde Jr.,Legal Officer II, who were designated hearing officers in the administrative case he had filed. City Engineer Loreto Dilag was also admonished by Leonardia in a directive that also instructed him to closely monitor the policies and practices of his department in project implementation.

Bernard Samonte Jr., disbursement officer of the City Treasurer's Office, meanwhile, was relieved of any administrative liability.*CGS

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