By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said he has called upon provincial government personnel to trust his staffing choices, especially after earlier reversing a decision by former Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. to reassign Provincial Human Resource Management head, Atty. Annabelle Palic.
The move reportedly sparked a signature campaign opposing the transfer.
“During my first flag ceremony as governor, I told provincial government employees to give me the benefit of the doubt—trust on the people that I choose,” he stated. “I hope they will respect that because, at the end of the day, if I choose the wrong people, it would reflect [on] my position.”
In terms of the supposed petition, Lacson said he has not heard about the matter himself but, if one exists, he vowed to review their concerns.
Palic was earlier reassigned after the Department of Budget and Management came out with an opinion disallowing the creation of a human resource management office. However, Provincial Administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, said no formal order to abolish Palic’s post has been received.
He added, such an order should come directly from the Civil Service Commission./DGB, WDJ