By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

After Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz II, earlier announced Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson had reversed a decision by former Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. to reassign Provincial Human Resource Management head, Atty. Annabelle Palic, following a decision by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the provincial official explained no formal order regarding the matter has been received.
He noted, dissolving such a position would have to come from the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
“Until there is a clear order from the CSC that she is to vacate the position, then we don’t have any legal basis to remove her from performing the tasks and duties attached to her position,” Diaz stated. “By what legal personnel transfer are we going to remove her?”
The provincial administrator added, based on rules, with Palic serving the post for at least a year, she is extended the “presumption of regularity.”
In the closing days of the Marañon administration, then-Negros Occidental Provincial Budget Officer Jose Percival Salado called for Palic to be relieved of duty after DBM issued an opinion disallowing the creation of a human resource department.
According to Salado, the governor met with employees who would be affected by the shuffle and were asked if they preferred posts within the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist or vacancies within other departments./DGB, WDJ