By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE) filed a formal administrative complaint against Atty. Annabelle Palic, Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) head, before the office of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson for alleged acts of oppression, prejudicial to public interest and grave abuse of discretion.
PACE president Renelo Lastierre said the complaint lodged against Palic is because of “oppression, acts prejudicial to public interest and grave abuse of discretion.”
Lastierre added that the filing of complaints against Palic, which was unanimously approved by PACE board of directors through a resolution, stemmed from accusations of some aggrieved capitol employees, including those who already retired from government service, against her.
“We believe that her continued existence in the provincial government will be prejudicial to the interest of the provincial government, and will do more harm to the administration of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson,” the PACE president said.
He added that the morale of capitol employees will be uplifted if their complaints are given due consideration.
Lastierre said over 694 capitol employees have signed the petition with sworn statements against the HRMO head.
The concerned capitol employees, according to Lastierre, executed sworn statements alleging of being deprived of leave credits during the COVID-19 pandemic, while retirees encountered difficulties in accessing their documents, which constitutes oppression.
The entire workforce believes that the character and attitude of Palic is never fit to be part of public service, or as public servants because she never had the heart and compassion for workers of this province, and she had continuously displayed such arrogance to workers plight, which affects the productivity and working environment in this province, the PACE, in its approved resolution, claimed.
“We pray with all good intentions that the provincial government will be informed and that the workforce morale will be uplifted by the giving of due consideration to the mentioned complaint,” it also said.
Lastierre also said they will file administrative and criminal complaints against Palic before the Office of the Ombudsman.
The PACE also welcomes the “reforms for all” being undertaken by the provincial government, rehabilitating the core attitude to serve rather than to be served, and restoring integrity and virtues of public servants as Kawani ay Bayaning Manggagagawa, government employees as “Heroes in Public Service.”
Palic was reassigned at the Negros First Cyber Centre after a petition against her by the union.
Palic could not be reached for comment as of press time./DGB, WDJ